Oplany: Valley, Náramka Spring and Chapel

Oplany can be discovered through three specific features: the winding Oplanka Valley between meadows and wooded slopes, the preserved Náramka Spring, and the Chapel of the Assumption of Mary dating from 1849. A cycling loop of around 25 kilometres also passes through the village.

Oplany at a glance

• Oplany is in the Central Bohemian Region, 8 km south of Kostelec nad Černými lesy.
• The village lies in the valley of the Oplanský potok; its average elevation is 360 m, and its cadastral area covers 580 hectares.
• Náramka Spring lies on the Oplanka in the direction of Stříbrná Skalice and is preserved.
• The Chapel of the Assumption of Mary is a listed building dating from 1849.
• Cycling loop 4/B is about 25 km long and passes through Oplany.

A valley between a stream, meadows and mixed forests

The Oplanka, also called the Oplanský potok, flows through Oplany from north to south. Its winding course runs between meadows and wooded slopes; mixed forests are also part of the landscape. The average elevation of 360 m and the 580-hectare cadastral area add two different measures to this description: an elevation figure and the area of the cadastral territory.

Near Rovné, the Oplanka flows into the Jevanský potok, which then flows into the Sázava. This places the watercourse in context beyond the village: Oplanka and Oplanský potok are two names for the same stream, which is connected to the Sázava via the Jevanský potok. Within Oplany, its north-to-south course provides a clear point of reference in the landscape.

Náramka Spring and the Chapel of the Assumption of Mary

The still-preserved Náramka Spring lies on the Oplanka stream, in the direction of Stříbrná Skalice. It was marked on Austrian military maps used in the 1866 war between Austria and Prussia. The spring also had a practical role in everyday life: in summer, local farmers relied on it when there was not enough water for livestock in the village. Its appearance on maps and its use as a water supply point to two different historical contexts.

Another historic landmark is the Chapel of the Assumption of Mary, a listed building dating from 1849. It was consecrated on 15 August of that same year. The chapel and the military maps are dated seventeen years apart. In Oplany, a precisely dated historic building and the historical appearance of the spring on maps therefore stand side by side as distinct points of reference.

Cycling loop and event history

Cycling loop 4/B is about 25 km long. It runs from Sázava via Nechyba, Benátky, Oplany, Hradec and Stříbrná Skalice, and back to Sázava. The stated distance refers to the entire loop; Oplany lies along the route but is neither its starting point nor its return point.

Events are also part of the village’s history. The KolOplan cycling competition has been held in Oplany on several occasions; announcements date from 2018, 2024 and 2025. If you would like to combine your trip with the competition, check the dates for your travel year. The Oplanská Bloudička orienteering event has also been held repeatedly; its earlier history includes the dates 16 September 2017 and 15 June 2019.

Oplany as a place to look for accommodation

If you are looking for accommodation in Oplany, you can choose the village based on the interests you want to shape your stay around: the valley and its historical points of interest, or the cycling loop as an excursion through several villages. For the latter, Sázava is also important as the route’s starting and return point. This lets you connect your choice of search location with a specific travel theme, without equating Oplany with the loop’s starting point.

Discover more destinations: Řež, Přezletice, Svémyslice, Slustice, Vodochody, Hrusice, Mochov and Březí U Říčan.

FAQ / Frequently asked questions about Oplany

Which places does cycling loop 4/B connect?

The loop runs from Sázava via Nechyba, Benátky, Oplany, Hradec and Stříbrná Skalice, and back to Sázava. It is about 25 km long in total.

For the broader travel overview: Okres Praha-Východ.