Střehom: Heritage Zone, Watermill and Plakánek

Střehom combines a protected historic villagescape with paths through the Plakánek Valley. The village is a rural heritage zone dating back to the Middle Ages; at the same time, the boundary of the Český ráj Protected Landscape Area runs through Střehom. The historic village and protected landscape meet here directly. The character of the village therefore combines architectural history and natural surroundings, without either aspect replacing the other.

Historic Villagescape and the Watermill

The character of Střehom includes timber-framed farmsteads whose upper floors date from the late 18th century. Four farmsteads, bearing house numbers 1, 3, 7 and 11, are protected as cultural monuments of the Czech Republic. Together with the medieval heritage zone, they reveal several historical layers of the village: the protected farmsteads shape the villagescape, while the site's older classification provides the overarching framework.

A particularly striking feature is the complex of Střehom's timber-framed watermill, which dates from 1516. The mill has a functioning water wheel. Thus, alongside the farmsteads, the village also contains a separate historic complex. The site also has a connection to film history: in the fairy-tale film “S čerty nejsou žerty,” Střehom Mill served as the mill of Petr Máchal.

Walking Through the Plakánek Valley

The romantic Plakánek Valley, surrounded by rocks, stretches from Střehom via Obora Pond to Kost Castle. Along this route, the preserved buildings of the village give way to a landscape where rocks and Obora Pond accompany the path. The marked hiking trail through the Plakánek Valley is reserved exclusively for pedestrians. The connection through the valley is therefore designated as a footpath; the cycle route, by contrast, runs via Střehom.

There are several marked access routes for walking to the village. From Kost Castle, the red trail leads to Střehom. From Vesec, the blue trail leads into the valley, where it meets the red route. The starting points are therefore different before the paths converge in the valley: Kost Castle is the starting point of the red trail, while Vesec is the starting point of the blue trail.

A separate route leads from Sobotka through the Plakánek Valley to Kost Castle. It passes through the protected heritage village of Střehom with its timber-framed upper-storey houses. This route therefore starts in Sobotka and differs from the walk starting at Kost Castle because it has a different starting point. Střehom lies within the same connection between the valley and the castle, but the route begins at another location.

A Cycle Route via Střehom

The Trosky–Kost–Malechovice cycle route passes through Střehom. It is 42 km long and is rated moderately difficult. This route therefore involves a different mode of travel from the hiking trail through Plakánek, which is reserved exclusively for pedestrians. Those exploring the area by bicycle should follow the signposted route via Střehom, while the valley trail remains reserved for pedestrian traffic.

Other Places for Planning Your Trip

Other destinations you can look up as part of your research include Branzez, Vrátno, Niměřice, Kochánky, Rokytovec, Knezmost, Vinec and Koryta.

For the higher-level travel overview: Mladá Boleslav District.