Všeruby Way

At a Glance

• Start / Finish: Prague, Old Town (near the Basilica of St. James the Greater) → Všerubský Pass near Všeruby, on the pass road where the East Bavarian Way of St. James begins
• Length: 204.8 km — the route is the official Všerubská trasa operated by Ultreia, verified segment by segment on the track
• Elevation gain: ↗ 3,264 m / ↘ 3,034 m — 15.9 m per kilometer, but without a single hill: The steepest climb in any 5-km section is 219 meters; the rest consists of dozens of undulations
• Duration: 7–9 days — realistically 9 to 10; if you plan on 7, you'll have three days of 32-kilometer hikes ahead of you
• Waymarking: yellow shell on a blue background plus the KČT color bars (red, blue, green, yellow), listed internationally as I 24 — according to the Czech pilgrim report, “po naprosto dokonale značených cestách,” on absolutely perfectly marked trails
• St James churches: three — Prague, Zbraslav, Nepomuk, all right along the route; “od Jakuba k Jakubovi,” “from Jacob to Jacob,” as one Czech pilgrim calls it
• Access route: The Zittau Way from Görlitz ends at the same basilica in Prague where the trail begins
• Connection: The East Bavarian Way of St. James to Regensburg, Eichstätt, and Neresheim begins right at the end of this trail
• Character: Low mountain range with no peaks, three pilgrimage sites, and no designated pilgrim hostels—advance reservations and a day’s worth of provisions are mandatory, not just recommended

Overview

This journey doesn't begin in Prague—it begins at a door: immediately before the Bazilika sv. Jakuba Většího in the Old Town. And it lives up to what the door promises: Three St. James churches along a 204.8-kilometer stretch, all located directly along the route — Prague, Zbraslav, Nepomuk. A Czech pilgrim sums it up in four words:"od Jakuba k Jakubovi" — from Jacob to Jacob. Beneath the second of these churches lies the monastery Aula Regia, which Václav II founded in 1292 and designated as the burial site of the Přemyslids: fifteen royal burials from 1305 to 1419, one year before the Hussites desecrated the graves. And it is precisely there, in Zbraslav, that the route takes a turn: sixteen kilometers along the Vltava River with an elevation gain of 53 meters—then twenty kilometers through the Brdy Mountains with an elevation gain of 517 meters. After that, it's a different route, and it stays that way all the way to Bavaria.

The biggest highlight is a person. At kilometer 0.9, the Charles Bridge is just a few minutes away—it was from there that, on 20. März 1393 Vicar General Jan of Pomuk. At kilometer 137, you'll pass right by St. James' Church in his hometown. Nepomuk...and in the end, you'll move to the country of which he is also the patron saint: John of Nepomuk, canonized on March 19, 1729; approximately 66,000 depictions worldwide; patron saint of Bohemia and Bavaria — on a route leading from Bohemia to Bavaria. From the bridge to the birthplace to the second homeland, in that order, over 205 kilometers. Along the way: Bohemia’s most important Marian pilgrimage site, just a few minutes from the route; thirty mummies beneath a Jesuit church; and an image of the Virgin Mary that began to bleed in 1685—and whose blood type was determined by a hematologist in 1985.

Defended in 1040, closed in 1948, reopened in 1990—the pass where two paths merge seamlessly into one another

The Šumava border ridge rises above 1,000 meters everywhere here. The Všerubský průsmyk is 430. It is the depression—and that is why, for a thousand years, everything that wanted to pass through has done so here: trade, armies, pilgrims. At the 22./23. August 1040 defended prince Břetislav I This pass, defended by palisades and archers, was used against King Henry III; his elite force, led by Count Werinhar, was “unexpectedly showered with arrows,” and Werinhar was killed. The chronicler Kosmas expressly refused to describe the massacre. Here is the full story: Břetislav won in 1040—and lost the conflict in 1041 on less favorable terms. According to tradition, he had a wooden St. Wenceslas Church built on the battlefield: the kostel sv. Václava in Brůdek, now the oldest surviving St. Wenceslas Church in Bohemia—during repairs, “an enormous quantity of human bones” was found there. It’s located just under a kilometer and a half off the trail—a detour on the last day—and it’s worth every meter.

According to this, the passport has been issued with dates spanning nearly every century: 1431 After the Battle of Domažlice, the defeated Crusader army retreated here. 1765/66 After the border treaty of 1764, Maria Theresa set her boundary stones—they are still standing. On the 4. Mai 1945 German troops surrendered in Všeruby. And then came the longest entry: From 1948 to 1989, the pass was to, part of the Iron Curtain, for 41 years. Since 1996, a memorial has stood in Všeruby honoring those who nevertheless attempted to cross the border during those years and died in the process. In 1990, the border crossing reopened.

And now for the part that makes this online journey unique. On the 15. Juni 2003 the first Czech section was officially connected to the Western European Way of St. James network; on 16. Juli 2004 The East Bavarian Way of St. James was inaugurated over there—and it’s literally defined by this one here:"The East Bavarian Way of St. James continues the southern Czech route of the Way of St. James, which runs from Prague to the Czech-German border near Všeruby." The two paths diverge flow seamlessly into one another — right at the spot where no one had been able to get through for 41 years. Next to it stands the Jakubský kámen, a stone with a number on it: 2.826. That's how far it is from here to Santiago.

Other Names

In Czech, the trail is called Všerubská svatojakubská cesta or, in short, Všerubská trasa — after the border town Všeruby (historically known in German as Neumark) and the Všerubský průsmyk, the Neumarker Pass. On the Bavarian side, it bears a name given to it by its neighbor: there, it is the"Czech Southern Variant" the Eastern Bavarian Way of St. James — that's exactly what it says on its Wikipedia page. Internationally, it is known as Route I 24; the sister route to Železná—the northern of the two western routes out of Prague—bears the same number. Various figures circulate regarding its length—205, 206, and even 214 kilometers—but the actual measured length is 204,8: We recalculated the route ourselves and confirmed the operator’s stage-by-stage plan. The route we show is the official one. And here’s a tip to help you avoid detours: In the Czech Republic, there are two places named Všeruby — the one referred to here in the Domažlice district at the border pass, and a second one in Všeruby (Wscherau) north of Plzeň. When using navigation, check the district.

Who It's Ideal For—and Who It's Not

This route is for you if you’re looking for a journey with a theme: three St. James churches, all right along the route, and in between, 205 kilometers of the Bohemian Low Mountains, which have a historical milestone to mark nearly every century since 1040. It’s also ideal if you like elevation gain but not summits: 3,264 meters of ascent, and the steepest climb in any five-kilometer stretch is 219 meters—which wears you down gradually rather than brutally. And it’s ideal if you’re looking for the Zittau Way you've already gone: Prague is the link between the two—the same church door.

To be honest, though, it's not for you if you're expecting a chain of hostels—there aren't any. Our database lists 45 locations null registered pilgrim hostels; the Czech pilgrims who write about their journey look for a place to stay the day before through booking sites (“Almost all of us looked for accommodations the day before through booking.com”) — and, if necessary, sleep under a shelter: “We also slept under a shelter when we couldn’t find anything.” It’s not for you either if you want to stop for a bite to eat along the way: The trail operator notes that an entire stage is “without any places to stop for a bite to eat,” and one pilgrim sums up the trail in a sentence punctuated by an exclamation point:"Po cestě není žádné restaurační zařízení, takže jídlo s sebou!" — There are no places to eat along the way, so bring your own food. And this route isn't for you if you're set on doing it in seven days: 204.8 kilometers in seven days means three days of walking more than 32 kilometers on this route. Nine or ten is the correct answer. You do that kind of math beforehand, not on the go.

Route & Landscape

The path turns at Zbraslav A slight twist, and you feel it in your leg. The first 16.1 Kilometers Follow the Vltava River as it flows through Prague—a total elevation gain of 53 meters, past Old Town Square, the Charles Bridge, the Emmaus Monastery, and beneath Vyšehrad; Near Zbraslav, just under a kilometer away from you, the Berounka flows into the Vltava, and that’s the extent of your encounter with the Berounka on this route. Then the Brdy: 517 meters of elevation gain over twenty kilometers, forested ridges, ponds, few people. Over Dobříš (381 m) The trail continues upward into the mining region Příbram (528 m), where, just a few minutes away from the route, the Svatá Hora towers over the landscape and reaches its highest point at kilometer 105.9: 791 meters on the ridge of Třemšín — The 827-meter peak itself is a good half kilometer away; it's visible and within reach, but not on the trail.

From Třemšín, the trail runs through the Plánická vrchovina — Buchenwald, plateaus between 550 and 630 meters, with Kasejovice, Nepomuk, and Plánice in between —, until he reached Klatovy drops to 418 meters. The Podšumaví It climbs once more to 718 meters at kilometer 192, then descends into the Všerubský průsmyk. And the pass is the real highlight of the landscape: the Bohemian Forest ridge here rises to over a thousand meters everywhere — According to the passport, it's 430. That is why this spot has been steeped in history since 1040, and why it was closed from 1948 to 1989. In summary: 44 percent of the route is above 500 meters, but only 2 percent is above 700 — Low mountain ranges without peaks, endless rolling hills. What you read on the operator’s website doesn’t match what you see on the ground: The trail doesn’t follow the Berounka Valley, and Karlštejn is a good 7 kilometers off the route. Both are destinations for day trips, not waypoints.

Stages, Terrain & Difficulty

The operator, Ultreia, divides the route into ten stages ranging from 10 to 27 kilometers, plus the 16-kilometer introductory section from the Basilica of St. James in Prague to Zbraslav—the flattest stretch of walking the Way of St. James has to offer, and at the same time the inner-city Prague St. James route with two St. James churches in a single morning; if you need to save time, you can shorten the route by taking a bus or train. We’ve compared the official breakdown with our track, and it matches up. Nevertheless, all kilometer figures below are marked “approx.” One thing in particular is important for planning: The hardest day comes at number nine — and the stage with no places to stop for a break at number seven.

1. Zbraslav → Skalka (Mníšek pod Brdy) — approx. 20 km — this is where the trail takes a turn: a 517-meter climb into the Brdy Mountains, via Jíloviště and Černolice. The Baroque complex Skalka is located 1.5 km from the route.
2. Skalka → Dobříš — about 15 km — down through Kytín to Dobříš; the Rococo castle is just a few minutes off the trail.
3. Dobříš → Příbram / Svatá Hora — approx. 24 km — via Holšiny and Buková u Příbramě; at the destination, just a few minutes away, is Bohemia’s most important Marian pilgrimage site.
4. Příbram → Rožmitál pod Třemšínem — approx. 21 km — the Mining Trail through Bohutín and Vysoká u Příbramě; Rožmitál Castle is right along the trail.
5. Rožmitál → Kasejovice — about 24 km — the highest day: over the Třemšín Ridge (791 m, the highest point along the trail) down to the synagogue in Kasejovice.
6. Kasejovice → Nepomuk — approx. 16 km — the quietest day, mostly downhill via Dvorec (train station right on the trail) to the birthplace of Jan Nepomuk; the third St. James Church, right on the trail.
7. Nepomuk → Plánice — approx. 17 km — through the beech forests of the Plánická vrchovina. ⚠️ According to the operator on the road with nowhere to stop for a meal — Bring enough food for the whole day.
8. Plánice → Klatovy — about 15 km — via Habartice (626 m) down to the royal city founded in 1260: Černá věž, the catacombs, the weeping miraculous image. Plan your visit briefly—the city takes time to explore.
9. Klatovy → Kdyně — approx. 25 km — the longest stage and, with 474 meters of elevation gain, one of the steepest, passing through Soustov (Koráb variant, +9.5 km) and Branišov (stage high: 718 m).
10. Kdyně → Všeruby / Všerubský průsmyk — approx. 10 km — the shortest and most concentrated leg: Tanaberk, a detour to Brůdek, Jakubský kámen — and after 204.8 kilometers, the end at the mountain pass road, where the East Bavarian Way of St. James begins.

If you have nine days, add the Prague leg to Stage 1 (making it 36 km—or 25 km to Jíloviště) and combine Nepomuk → Klatovy; however, this double day will then cover 32.4 kilometers, with 624 meters of elevation gain and no places to stop for refreshments along the way—be sure to pack all your provisions and book a bed in Klatovy in advance. Seven days are theoretically possible, but they require three days covering more than 32 kilometers: That’s a march, not a pilgrimage, and it takes everything that lies between the kilometers along this route—and there’s a lot there. Nine to ten days are the right choice for this route.

Highlights Along the Way

• Basilica of St. James the Greater, Prague (km 0) — The trail begins right outside the door of St. James’s Basilica in Prague. The Zittau Way ends at the same church: In our network, Prague is not a city, but a church door.
• Church of St. James the Greater, Zbraslav (km 16, right on the trail) — the second St. James' Church and the burial site of the Přemyslids: monastery Aula Regia, founded in 1292 by Wenceslaus II (“Náš dvůr na Zbraslavi…od nynějška vám trvalým právem věnujeme”), fifteen royal burials from 1305 to 1419, desecrated by the Hussites in 1420 and rediscovered only in the 1970s.
• Skalka Baroque Complex (km 36, 1.5 km from the starting point) — Kryštof Dientzenhofer’s chapel from 1692–93, whose interior was designed to resemble a cave: stalactites on the ceiling, river pebbles on the floor. Undermined by iron ore mining in the 1950s; named “Monument of the Year” in 2019.
• Dobříš Castle (52 km, a few minutes off the main road) — Purchased in 1630 by Bruno Mansfeld for 40,000 guilders; burned down in 1720; rebuilt from 1745 to 1765 by a Frenchman and an Italian as a Rococo palace with a horseshoe-shaped floor plan; served as a writers’ retreat for nearly fifty years after 1945; returned to its original owners in 1998.
• Svatá Hora, Příbram (76 km, a few minutes away) — the most important Marian pilgrimage site in Bohemia: developed into a sanctuary by the Jesuits under Carlo Lurago beginning in 1647/48; in 1658, the Svaté schody, to the double staircase designed by Kilián Ignác Dientzenhofer in 1727, 1732: The Coronation of the Miraculous Image, designated a minor basilica by Pius X. At the end of the 19th century, 20,000 to 25,000 pilgrims at the main festival on July 7 — and lead from the town square in Příbram 365 Steps upward, one for each day of the year. The founding legend (Knight Malovec, 13th century) was already disputed by the Baroque historian Balbín—the oak tree was struck by lightning in 1643.
• Březové Hory Mining Museum (km 78, 1.1 km ab) — In 1875, the Vojtěch shaft reached a depth of 1,000 meters, presumably making it the first mine in the world to do so; in the 19th century, these mines accounted for 97.7 percent of the silver and lead produced in all of Austria-Hungary.
• Rožmitál pod Třemšínem (km 97) — The castle is right along the path. And just a few minutes further on, in Starý Rožmitál, the cantor composed Jakub Jan Ryba, 1796: “Česká mše vánoční” — a cantor named Jakob, next to a Way of St. James.
• Kasejovice (km 121) — a late Baroque synagogue with seating for 66 men and 45 women; a Jewish cemetery first mentioned in 1669; a museum in the synagogue — located in the heart of a town with a population of 1,300.
• Nepomuk (km 137) — the highlight of the journey: the kostel sv. Jakuba Většího right next to the railway line, in the birthplace of John of Nepomuk (died March 20, 1393; canonized March 19, 1729) — approximately 66,000 depictions worldwide; patron saint of Bohemia and Bavaria. A good half kilometer away: Zelená Hora Castle, the site where the “Rukopis zelenohorský” was discovered (1817), the authenticity of which has been disputed for over 200 years — closed since 2025 for reconstruction.
• Plánice (km 154, right on the trail) — the birthplace of František Křižík, the “Czech Edison” and inventor of the arc lamp; 1.7 km further on is the pilgrimage church in Nicov, designed by Kilián Ignác Dientzenhofer (1717–1726)—a monumental structure in a hamlet.
• Klatovy (km 169) — A royal city since 1260 with three superlatives within a hundred meters: the Černá věž (1547–1555, 81.6 m) right along the path; the Jesuit Church with the Catacombs (Burials 1676–1783; today, 30 naturally mummified bodies are visible); and the miraculous image, which is located at the On July 8, 1685, he began to bleed from his forehead — In 1985, the chief hematologist at Klatovyer Hospital identified the substance: human blood, type AB. The question remains unanswered; the stains are still visible.
• Tanaberk (km 198, about 100 m off the road) — The St. Anna Pilgrimage Church at 613 meters: oval layout, commemorative linden trees, and a Way of the Cross with 14 stone stations from 2017. The last pilgrimage stop before Bavaria.
• Brůdek (km 203, just under 1.5 km away) — the kostel sv. Václava, built in 1040 by Břetislav I on the battlefield, according to tradition, is considered the oldest surviving St. Wenceslas Church in Bohemia; during repairs, “an enormous quantity of human bones” was discovered. A detour—and the best one along the way.
• Všeruby (km 204) — Church of St. Michael the Archangel (1628–1650), Theresian boundary stones from 1765/66, the surrender monument from May 4, 1945, and the Monument to the Third Resistance (1996) honoring those killed at the border between 1948 and 1989 — and the Jakubský kámen The number 2,826: that's how many kilometers it is from here to Santiago.

How Pilgrims Find Their Way onto This Path

The classic approach is a whole journey: The Zittau Way starts in Görlitz and ends at the same basilica in Prague, at whose doorstep this one begins—if you walk both one after the other, you’ll cover 397 kilometers from the Neisse River to Bavaria without even having to cross the street in Prague. And because the Zittau Way connects to a four-way junction in Görlitz, the chain continues: That’s where the Camino Dolnosląska from Lower Silesia and the Via Regia Polska, that's where the Via Regia Deutschland — and 55 kilometers further on, in Bautzen, the Jakobsweg Sachsen.

In Prague itself, there is a second beginning at the same church: The Železná Way, the sister route, also begins at St. James’s Basilica and runs 259 kilometers to the Bavarian border near Tillyschanz. The two routes diverge while still within the city limits—Železná follows the left bank of the Vltava, while Všeruby passes through Modřany and Zbraslav. For those weighing their options: Železná is 54 kilometers longer and slightly hillier per kilometer (17.6 versus 15.9 meters of elevation gain); Všeruby features the three St. James churches and the pilgrimage sites. If you want to walk only this route, take a car or fly to Prague—see the “Getting There” section for more details.

Continue the pilgrimage?

Yes—and without a break: At the end of this trail, on the mountain pass road at Všerubský průsmyk, the Ostbayerische Jakobsweg — right where it ends. It was inaugurated on July 16, 2004, and runs 312 kilometers through Eschlkam, Neukirchen beim Heiligen Blut, Regensburg and Eichstätt according to Neresheim — and he describes it as a continuation of precisely this route: “The East Bavarian Way of St. James continues the southern Czech variant of the Way of St. James, which runs from Prague to the Czech-German border at Všeruby.” This is where Bohemia ends and Bavaria begins, and the route takes no notice.

In Neresheim, the chain is passing the baton to the Jakobsweg Nürnberg–Ulm, from Ulm, the Oberschwäbische Jakobsweg to Konstanz; that's where the Swiss Via Jacobi — and at some point, past Geneva and Le Puy, you'll find yourself standing on the Camino Francés to Santiago. The stone in Všeruby shows the number of miles that still lie ahead of you: 2,826 Kilometers. If you'd rather explore the sister route first, return to Prague and take the Železná Way — Same church door, different border.

Preparation & Practical Information

Markings and Documents: A yellow shell on a blue field, accompanied by the KČT color bars in red, blue, green, and yellow, alternating for each section; sponsored by Ultreia, z.s. together with the Klub českých turistů, KČT-certified since 2018. A Czech pilgrim’s account praises “po naprosto dokonale značených cestách” — absolutely perfectly marked trails. Still, be sure to bring the Camino Ninja app—it has the entire route mapped out—because the trail marker colors change, and in the forests of the Plánická vrchovina, there’s no one around to ask for directions. Ultreia issues the pilgrim passport; the Czech network has over 100 stamp locations, and on this route they’re located in all the stage towns—for example, the Muzeum příhraničí in Kdyně is one such location.

Food — the one aspect of this journey that is unsentimental. For the Nepomuk → Plánice leg, the operator states, word for word, “no places to stop for refreshments along the way,” and a Czech pilgrim sums up the entire route as follows:"Po cestě není žádné restaurační zařízení, takže jídlo s sebou!" This is no exaggeration—the Brdy and the Plánická vrchovina are sparsely populated. You’ll need water and food for the whole day, every day. In Příbram, Nepomuk, Klatovy, and Kdyně, you can find everything; in between, there’s often nothing.

Accommodations and Time Slots: There is no chain of pilgrim hostels—our database lists zero registered pilgrim hostels across 45 locations. Ultreia lists pilgrim accommodations in the stage towns for 250 to 800 CZK; in Nepomuk, the Archdeaconry takes in pilgrims. What Czech pilgrims do: “Téměř každý jsme si den předen hledali ubytování přes booking.com”—and if necessary, “Taky jsme spali pod přístřeškem, když jsme nic nenašli” Book in advance—in this context, that's not a recommendation, but the method. Best time to visit: May through October; the higher elevations around kilometer 190 may still have snow as late as April. And keep the stages to Příbram and Klatovy short: The catacombs and Svatá Hora are guided tours—if you arrive after 4 p.m., you’ll only see the trail’s two main attractions from the outside. The easiest way is to plan your days directly in the Camino Ninja app and book your accommodations at the same time.

What the journey will cost you

The Czech Republic is the more affordable part of this route. For accommodations, the operator lists 250 to 800 CZK per person per night (As of August 2026) — equivalent to about 10 to 32 euros; the range reflects the difference between a parsonage and a hotel. Expect to pay 25 to 40 euros per day including meals, if you're cooking for yourself and staying in guesthouses—though in Prague, it'll probably be a bit more on the first night. For nine days, that comes out to about 250 to 400 euros On-site, plus travel to and from the destination. What costs money and is worth it: the guided tour of the Klatovy Catacombs, the Březové Hory Mining Museum with its mine train, and Dobříš Castle. And what you’ll save on—because it simply doesn’t exist—luggage transport, hostel fees, and reservation systems.

Getting Here

To Prague You can get here from anywhere—Václav Havel Airport or by train via Dresden, Vienna, Nuremberg, or Munich. The starting point is right in the heart of the Old Town: From the main train station (Praha hl. n.), it’s just under a kilometer to Kilometer 0—you get off the train and, after a quarter of an hour, you’ll be standing in front of St. James’ Basilica. If you’re arriving on foot, take the Zittau Way, which ends at the same church.

Back from the destination You have two options. On the Czech side: the 10 kilometers to Kdyně head back (the train station is just a few minutes from the route) and take the train via Domažlice to Plzeň and Prague. On the Bavarian side: over the pass to Eschlkam and on to Furth im Wald — The train station is located on the international route connecting Prague with Regensburg and Munich. If you’re continuing your pilgrimage, you won’t need any of that: The East Bavarian Way of St. James begins exactly where your last step ends.

• Getting to the starting point: Prague by plane (Václav Havel) or train (Dresden, Vienna, Nuremberg, Munich); from Prague Main Station (Praha hl. n.) → St. James the Greater Basilica, a 15-minute walk.
• Return trip from the destination: Kdyně (train station a few minutes from the trail) → Domažlice → Plzeň → Prague; or over the mountain pass to Furth im Wald, with train connections to Regensburg, Munich, and Prague.
• Intermediate stops by train: Dobříš (a few minutes off the trail), Příbram (just under a kilometer away), Nepomuk/Dvorec (right on the trail—along the Plzeň–České Budějovice route), Klatovy (just over 1 km, direct trains to Plzeň/Prague) and Kdyně (a few minutes). This means the route can be neatly divided into two halves—with Nepomuk as the natural midpoint.