Forget-me-nots: Rocks, Berounka and History

Nezabudice between Rocks and the Berounka

Nezabudice combines a distinctive natural landscape with historic traces along the Berounka. The Nezabudické skály Nature Reserve lies on a steep south-facing slope above the Berounka. It protects rocky slopes with a very species-rich reptile fauna. The wildlife includes green lizards and smooth snakes. The combination of the hillside location, rocky areas and this distinctive reptile fauna gives this part of the landscape a clear individual character. For those interested in nature, the reserve is therefore the central focus, with its character shaped not only by its location on the river but also by the animals protected there.

St. Lawrence Church Above the Centre

St. Lawrence Church stands in a dominant position above the centre of Nezabudice, on a low hillock next to a former small cemetery. This position clearly places the building within the village landscape and provides a specific starting point for exploring the village's history. The single-nave building has a polygonal presbytery closed on three sides and a two-storey west tower. A distinctive architectural detail is an original Gothic pointed-arch window, now bricked up, with coarse two-part stone tracery. The Gothic pointed-arch window is part of the church building as a bricked-up detail.

Memories of Personalities and Milling Culture

The Pamětní síň Jaroslava Fraňka is dedicated to the legionnaire and resistance fighter Jaroslav Franěk, who was born in Nezabudice. Another historical facet is provided by the Nezabudický mlýn: the Baroque mill complex has a core dating from the 17th to 18th centuries and is known from the stories of the writer Ota Pavel. U Rozvědčíka is now a cult tourist excursion inn, opened by Jaroslav Franěk in 1934. The three places emphasise different aspects: the memorial is dedicated to Jaroslav Franěk, the mill combines its 17th- to 18th-century core with Ota Pavel's stories, and U Rozvědčíka is associated with its opening by Franěk in 1934. Personal remembrance, literary references and historic building fabric thus stand side by side.

Paths and Orientation in the Landscape

There is a red-marked KČT hiking trail in Nezabudice, referred to as the Way of St. James. Another line of orientation is provided by the Ota Pavel ferry: it crosses the Berounka from Luh below Branov to Nezabudice. The trail and the ferry thus represent different excursion routes: a marked route on land and a crossing of the river. Accessibility is important when planning a visit to the nature reserve. Access is restricted to marked hiking trails along its northern and southern boundaries; a road runs along the southern boundary. The marked hiking trails therefore form the accessible route through the protected area, while the road on the southern boundary provides an additional point of orientation. Anyone travelling in the protected area should keep to these marked routes. The road on the southern boundary also marks a clear limit for route planning. Those focusing on the rocks and wildlife should plan their route with these boundaries in mind. Those who prefer historic sites can orient themselves by the church above the centre and the other cultural sites in the village. When looking for accommodation in Nezabudice, you can therefore choose according to whether your travel interests lie primarily in the rocks and wildlife, the historic sites, or the paths and crossings along the Berounka.

Discover More Places

For your further search, you can also find Cista U Rakovnika, Velká Buková, Pochvalov, Pšovlky, Třeboc, Přílepy, Svojetín and Kroučová.

For the higher-level travel overview: Okres Rakovník.