Skiing near Brno: Stupava ski area, Chriby and Kazatelna

One weekend we were 50 km from Brno exploring Buchlovske Mountains as well as the ski area in Stupava, which is a small slope with two 350 meters long lifts. One 170 meters long lift and a kid’s lift. They can take up to 2500 people per hour. Not much compared to Austrian or Switzerland ski resorts, but enough not to wait in horribly long queues. There’re two red tracks and a blue one on top of the hill.

RESTAURANT

If you feel hungry or exhausted you can eat a proper meal and recover strength in a restaurant called Akvarko on the other side of the street or go for fast food at the booth next to the ticket office.

STUPAVA

A week ago Stupava slope was easily recognizable as it was the only mountain covered with snow nearby. Interestingly the snow cover, even though it was technical, was the highest in neighborhood.

HOW TO?

Since yesterday the conditions in other ski resorts might have noticeably improved, nevertheless where else will you find a slope that is close so from Brno? Last year I was writing about Olesnice and Dalecin ski areas, which are also not a great distance. Here the route is way easier. Go to D1 in the direction to Vyskov, then turn to Slavkov u Brna, go through Bucovice all the time on route no. 50. And then turn right to Stupava.

HAPPY SKIERS

Just because the daylight ends, doesn’t mean the ride and fun does. Lighting allows the evening skiing as well. Stupava is open from 8.30 a.m. till 8.30 p.m every day except Friday when it’s open till 9 p.m. Even skiers and snowboarders living in Brno can go to Stupava after work for a 2 or 3-hour ride. Unfortunately, I couldn’t test it personally because of my “condition”, but everyone looked cheerful and delighted. The hill seemed a bit steep though, but as they say: where you stand depends on where you sit. Even the very small kids rode with a smile on their faces, so it couldn’t have been that horrible.

HIKING

For people, who like me cannot ski or snowboard this season I recommend hiking nearby Chriby highlands. You can travel the length and breadth of Chriby hills as they are loaded with hiking and cycle paths all around. From Korycany and the ruins of Cimburk castle to Kostelany western city. From Strilky and other ruins of a castle to Buchlovice chateau. Unfortunately, at this time of the year, most of the attractions are closed and can be viewed only from the outside.

WHAT’S THE BEST SEASON TO VISIT?

Late spring and summer are probably the best seasons to visit Chriby highlands. First of all you can derive from beech forests, one of the healthiest in the Czech Republic. Second of all, you can explore mystical castles, picturesque viewpoints like the Brdo observation tower, or impressive rock formations.

OUR HIKE

We’ve decided to take a 10 kilometer walk from Stupava to Kazatelna through 553-meter-high hill Ocasek and back to Stupava. We parked at the ski area and move on the concrete roads in southwest directions. Along the road goes also the cycle paths 473 and 5150 to Cimburk castle. At the “Nad Prehradou,” we started following the green hiking path, which we changed to a red one at “U Misy studanka”.

KAZATELNA

The red trail led us to Kazatelna, an 8 meter high unique and outstanding rock formation, which since 1967 is protected as a natural monument. The upper part of the rock was changed by humans, steps were carved for an easier climb. It is said that the rock was used as a pulpit by Archbishop Methodius in the 9th century, later by St. Clement’s from the Augustinian monastery. In 1972 a cross was put on top of the pulpit. Climbing seemed a bit scary at first, but the surrounding view set my mind at rest.

WHERE NEXT?

We followed the red path until “Pod Ocaskem” and turned to the green trail again. Before the mark “U hrobu” we turned left to an unmarked path that led back to Stupava. We could have also followed the green path until we would reach Stare Hute and then returned back to Stupava from the other side, but it would make few kilometers more.