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Czech Republic: Cycling from Týn nad Vltavou to Český Krumlov with a detour to Temelín

Cycling trip along the Vltava river continued in the morning with the visit of the Temelín Nuclear Power Station, largest power resource in the Czech Republic. After the free visit of the information centre we continued cycling towards České Budějovice, where we stopped for lunch and soon we continued to Český Krumlov, our today's final destination.

Previous days of our Czech cycling trip: Day 4, Day 3, Day 2, Day 1.

 

Approaching the 2000 MW nuclear power staton Jaderná elektrárna Temelín with 2 VVER reactors.

Pond below Vysoký Hrádek.

 

Cycling near the power station.

Construction began in 1981, while the first reactor was finally commissioned in 2000.

In 1985, the village of Křtěnov disappeared due to the construction of the Temelín Nuclear Power Plant. Out of the original village, only the parish church of St. Procopius and several houses remained. Nobody lives here anymore.

The Czech Republic has six nuclear reactors generating about one-third of its electricity, that is around 4 GW.

Towards the Temelín Nuclear Power Plant Information Centre.

Exploring nuclear power.

Center of the former village of Křtěnov once stood here.

For the reactor to produce thermal output 1W, 30 billion fissions of uranium-235 must take place every second. For a coal power station to produce the same output 1,500,000,000 billion carbon atoms must be burned.

 

Red-leaved beech - Fagus sylvatica Atropurpurea.

The plant has 4 cooling towers (each reactor has 2 towers). Each tower has a height of 150 metres, a diameter of 130 metres, and an external wall surface area of 44000 square metres. Pure water is evaporated in cooling tower (~0.3m3/s). The water needs to be constantly refilled.

Leaving Temelín Nuclear Power Station.

Municky Rybnik.

Colours of the cyclists.

Off road adventures.

 

Successful shortcut.

Road to České Budějovice.

 

Hot day.

Crossing Vltava.

 

České Budějovice is the largest city in the South Bohemian Region - Jihočeský kraj.

 

The city was founded in 1265 by King Ottokar II of Bohemia.

 

Budějovice has long been well known for the beer brewed there since the 13th century.

 

Lunch.

10 years ago we visited the city with motorbikes - 11446 and 11447.

 

Quercus robur - common oak in the Opalice village.

Cycling refuge came in handy.

Bar in a village Štěkře.

 

One more crossing of the Vltava.

 

Linden tree infront of the Cistercian monastery in Zlatá Koruna and finally we arrived to Český Krumlov.

Black beauty in racing mode.

 

Český Krumlov Castle dates back to 1240 when the first castle was built by the Vítkovci family, the main branch of the powerful Bohemian family Rosenberg (Rožmberkové).

Entering the city centre.

 

Český Krumlov historic centre, centred around the Český Krumlov Castle, has been a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1992.

From Týn nad Vltavou to Český Krumlov - Garmin Connect.

 

Angry Tuši.

Krumlov has its origin in Middle High German Krumme Aue, which can be translated as crooked meadow, after a bend of the Vltava.

St. Vitus Church is an important late-Gothic monument from 1407–1438.

Selfie time.

 

Boating is very popular on Vltava around Český Krumlov.

 

Quick soup and beer before the real dinner.

 

Exploring the city.

Photographer Tuši.

 

The tall rock cliffs jutting out over Vltava river was populated long before the oldest parts of today's castle and church were founded. The first settlement of the castle promontory dates back to the Bronze Age.

 

Under the castle complex lies the old town with its winding alleys and venerable Gothic and Renaissance houses, many galleries, little shops and inns.

 

One of the sister cities of Český Krumlov is also Slovenj Gradec.

  

Dinner time.

 

Evening below the castle.

Geocaches found (all received a visit by trackable items "remotesearchers GLOBALBUG", TB2R0H6 and "OceantagZ", TB5NYN3):
- Vysoky Hradek, GC2VEMM
- Zanikle obce - Krtenov 1, Multi, GC7M3GG
- Zanikle obce - Krtenov 2, GC7MHHT
- Buk červenolistý, GC7P3JK
- Ctyri veze / The Four Towers - Virtual Reward 2017, Virtual Cache, GC7BA43
- Zlata Koruna - lipa, GC6AYC9
- Panoramata u Srnina, GC6Z720