The town of Slaný can boast a rich history, and there is much to see that will remind you of this. The centre, where there are a great many monuments to be seen, is Masarykovo náměstí (Masaryk Square), which you can reach by passing through Velvarská Gate, built in the 15th century. It is here that you will see the grand piarist school, built in the 17th century, which is now used as the Museum of Local History (Vlastivědné muzeum). Your attention will also be drawn to the Old Town hall, the Gothic Church of St. Gotthard, the former synagogue, built in the Moorish style in 1865, and a little further on the still-functioning monastery of Discalced Carmelites, and its Holy Trinity Church. You can also get a good look at the town from Slánská Mountain, which is the remains of the southernmost volcano in the Central Bohemian Uplands (České Středohoří). A stone hill fort later stood beneath the mountain. A tour of Slaný has another two things going for it - the local breweries, where you can quench your thirst and build up your strength again. One is found close to the station and the other in the centre, in the Modletický Building, with its Renaissance facade.

Your journey begins at the railway station in Kralupy nad Vltavou. Head down to take a look at the River Vltava and its unique T. G. Masaryk Bridge, which was built between 1926 and 1928 in the austere Constructivist style in line with the designs of architect Jiří Kroha. On the square, Palacký Square (Palackého náměstí), meanwhile, you can admire the neo-Gothic Church of the Assumption of Our Lady and St. Wenceslas, whose steeple stretches up to a height of 63 metres, and a little further on, in S. K. Neumanna Street, the former synagogue, built in 1873. There is plenty of information about the town and its surroundings at the local museum, where they also have a room devoted to writer Jaroslav Seifert. It is from Kralupy that the mother of the famous Nobel Prize winner hailed, while the poet himself is buried in the local cemetery.

Take cycling route 2020 from the museum and cycle through the villages alongside Knovízský Stream and on through Žižice, between the orchards, to the former royal town of Slaný. If you are not really in the mood for monuments on a hot summer’s day, we recommend that you pay a visit to the local open-air pool (in U Plovárny Street). Road 118 runs not far from here on to Smečno. There you will see a picturesque Renaissance chateau and its mighty tower, as well as an open-air military museum, which is housed in two pre-War fortifications. Continue on to the south along the yellow hiking trail and gradually climb through the forest to the road, there taking a left. You will pass around the former Schoeller mine, from which the last wagon of black coal in the whole of the Kladno area was taken back in 2002. After a short while it is time to turn off onto the green trail. This will take you to the early-medieval Premyslid hill fort of Libušín, which is linked to the life of the famous duchess and prophet Libuše. The Church of St. George, meanwhile, stands on the former acropolis, having been built there in the 13th century.

Carefully descend the green trail on the other side of the hill. You will then reach Kladno by following the road and cycling route 0017.