The Vltava Meanders at Maj

South of Prague the Vltava cuts a deep, wooded trench through the granite plateau, and since the valley was dammed in the middle of the last century the water inside it lies still and green. The Maj viewpoint, on a rock spur above the village of Teletin, looks straight down on one of the tightest bends, where the river swings around a forested spur and comes back on itself so that you see two arms of water at once. It is a short walk from the parking place along a level forest path, ending at a railed platform on the edge. The drop below the rail is serious, and the view carries several kilometres up and down the valley.

What you actually see

• The bend itself - two arms of green water separated by a narrow forested ridge directly below the rail.
• The valley walls - steep granite slopes covered in oak and pine, dropping straight to the water.
• The boat traffic - passenger boats and small craft crossing the reservoir far below in summer.
• The forest approach - the level path from Teletin through pine woods to the edge of the spur.

When to go

Late afternoon light works best, with the sun down the valley rather than in your lens. Autumn adds colour to the oak on the slopes. Spring is clear before the haze of high summer. It is an easy half-day from Prague, and weekday visits avoid the queue for the platform that forms on fine weekends.

Honest expectations

It is a single view and nothing more, so the drive out is longer than the visit unless you add a walk. The platform is small and people wait their turn for the front rail. Trees have grown up and partly frame the view. The parking area at Teletin is informal and fills fast. There are no facilities at the viewpoint.

Nearby

The Slapy and Stechovice dams are close, and the Sazava valley runs east toward Cesky Sternberk.