Stechovice: Nature Trail, Church and Hydroelectric Power Plant

Stechovice combines nature observation, local history and technology into a travel idea with different focal points. At its heart is the Povltavská stezka – Svatojánské proudy nature trail. Added to this are the parish church of St. John of Nepomuk, the Štěchovice hydroelectric power plant and the Štěchovice Dam. This allows you to choose between a nature walk, architecture and a guided technical tour.

Nature along the Svatojánské proudy nature trail

The Svatojánské proudy nature trail begins in Štěchovice and ends in Nové Třebenice. It is 7 km long and has 12 stations. In terms of content, the nature trail focuses on botany, zoology and ecology. Botany draws attention to plants, zoology to animals, and ecology to the relationships between living organisms and their environment. In this way, the trail has not only a defined length but also a clear focus on natural history.

The nature trail runs partly along a steep slope and is intended exclusively for pedestrians. For your planning, this means clearly that you will explore the route on foot. The combination of 7 km, 12 stations and the three subject areas provides a concrete basis if you want to experience nature not only through the landscape but also through its plant and animal life.

Štěchovice can be reached by car via road II/102 or by bus; during the holidays, a boat also seasonally adds to the options. Depending on your preferred itinerary, you can therefore reach the town by different means of transport.

Church, tower museum and local history

The parish church of St. John of Nepomuk in Štěchovice was newly built and consecrated on 23 October 1915. It stands on a hill; its tiered roof resembles the surrounding hills on the horizon. Architecturally, the church combines motifs from Art Nouveau, antiquity, Byzantine, Romanesque and Renaissance architecture.

Since August 2020, the tower museum in the church has been open to the public. The exhibition presents life in the parish. This allows a visit to the church to be complemented by an insight into local history, while its hilltop location and roof shape create a distinct architectural connection with the landscape.

Hydroelectric power plant and dam

The visitor centre of the Štěchovice hydroelectric power plant offers free guided tours by prior arrangement. The tours include the Štěchovice I machine hall and the outdoor switchyard with its transformers. The focus here is on the technical areas of the power plant, making it clearly different from the nature-related topics of the trail.

The Štěchovice Dam is also part of the history of technology. It was built between 1937 and 1945 and is clad in granite.

Choose accommodation according to your preferred focus

When looking for accommodation in Stechovice, you can first determine your preferred daily itinerary. If the nature trail is your main focus, Štěchovice is the starting point of the 7 km route. If you are more interested in the church, tower museum or power plant, you can plan these as separate sightseeing stops.

More destinations for your search

For your further search, you can also visit these destinations: Všenory, Chrášťany, Libeř, Lichoceves, Čisovice, Pikovice, Trnová and Úhonice.

For the overarching travel overview: Prague-West District.