Route Circuit Rider CZ - Stage 4  

Stage 4 of my cycling circumnavigation of the Czech Republic passed through one of the most sparsely populated and least-frequented parts of the Czech Republic - the Bohemian Forest (Český les). During the Cold War, this area was out of bounds to all except border guards, as it formed part of the Iron Curtain that descended across Europe after World War II. Indeed, for much of Stage 4 I travelled along the official Iron Curtain Greenway cycle trail. My base for the first two nights was Cheb (one of the few towns on this stage). This allowed me to leave most of my stuff in the hotel and cycle super light around the Aš salient on day 1. I then headed south, crossing in and out of Germany until I reached Nýrsko, gateway to Šumava National Park.