Kaly: Discover Hiking, Cycling and Local History

Kaly and the district of Zahrada offer ways to enjoy a stay combining hiking, cycling and local heritage. The Křivoš lookout tower is a hiking destination; several cycling routes pass through Kaly or Zahrada. Chapels, a memorial to those who fell in the First World War and a wayside cross offer further sights to visit. When planning your trip, you can combine hiking routes, cycling tours and historical sights according to your interests.

Hike to the Křivoš Lookout Tower

The Křivoš lookout tower stands southeast of the village of Zahrada, a district of Kaly, on the summit of the same name, which rises to 464 metres. From the Kaly bus stop, a blue-marked hiking trail leads through Zahrada to the tower. From the Křivoš viewing platform, the marked trail passes notable small waterfalls on the Kalský potok. This means that both the tower and the waterfalls are named points along the hiking route.

The Křivoš lookout tower is open year-round, free of charge and freely accessible. Check the current conditions on site before your visit. When planning, you can treat the summit and the waterfalls as distinct points of reference along the marked trail.

Cycling Routes Through Kaly and Zahrada

The long cycling loop of the PORTA Microregion runs through Předklášteří, Dolní Loučky, Kaly, Zahrada, Štěpánovice and Lomnička before returning to Předklášteří. It is 16.00 kilometres long; via Babylon Hill, the route measures 16.76 kilometres in total. From Kaly, cyclists can continue to Zahrada directly or via Babylon Hill. On Babylon Hill, there is a viewing platform, a panoramic map and a place to rest.

A shorter loop is the Štěpánovice–Borač–Kaly–Štěpánovice cycling route, described as 7.71 kilometres long. Another option is the approximately 14-kilometre cycling trip “Na Babylon.” It leads from Borač, in the district of Vrby, along an uphill forest path to the Babylon viewing platform above Kaly. Near Zahrada, you can optionally continue to Křivoš; the route then descends to Dolní Loučky. The route lengths help you compare the tours, but on their own they do not indicate how long the ride will take. Route conditions may change; check them before setting off if needed.

Chapels and Memorials

In the centre of Kaly stands the Chapel of St. Mary Magdalene. It dates from 1883 and is a state-protected cultural monument. The chapel stands approximately on the site of an old bell tower dating from 1834. A sculpture of St. Florian stands in a niche above its entrance. Next to the chapel is the memorial to those who fell in the First World War, made of Nedvědice marble.

Zahrada also has a Chapel of St. Mary Magdalene: the year 1915 is inscribed on its gable, and it was renovated after 1990. On the northern edge of Kaly, a field path runs past an undated cast-iron cross on a sandstone base that is now badly damaged. These details distinguish the two chapels and also offer different stops for exploring the local heritage.

Getting There by Public Transport

To travel from Brno to Kaly, take train S3 and change in Tišnov to bus 335 towards Drahonín/Olší. You can get off at Kaly or Kaly, Zahrada. As the connection and stop information comes from a 2023 travel guide, check the current timetable before travelling. This will help you plan your train and bus journey to suit your exploration of Kaly or Zahrada.

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