Ujkovice: Ponds, History and Paths through the Landscape

Ujkovice combines an unusually tangible local history with a landscape of ponds, wetlands and marked trails. Particularly distinctive are the archaeological traces of a fortification, the bodies of water along the Hasinský stream and the natural areas in the southeast of the village. If you would like to combine cultural history with walks through a varied landscape during your stay, you will find several distinct points of interest here.

Fortification Site and Local History

The only registered immovable cultural monument in Ujkovice is the archaeological remains of a fortification. The fortification site lies north of the farmyard on the edge of a terrain terrace. It is protected by a ditch on three sides and by a slope on the northern side. The structure probably originated at the beginning of the 14th century, was still mentioned as extant in 1517 and was described as abandoned in the following decades. This chronology makes the site a tangible testament to how local history changed over several centuries, without presenting the former structure as an attraction that is accessible or operated today.

The recorded history of Ujkovice begins in 1088 under the former name Hejkovice. Older residents still occasionally use this name today. For visitors who want to discover regional history not only through individual buildings but also through traditional place names, this linguistic echo is one of the village's characteristic details.

Ponds, Oak and Protected Landscape

There are five ponds in Ujkovice. The largest are located along the Hasinský stream: Borečovský covers 8.2 ha, while Kabát covers 5.1 ha. The area around Ujkovice is a picturesque Central Bohemian landscape with many ponds and small ponds. The Kabát and Borečovský pond system, recorded as an HKS, covers 42.9 ha in the cadastral areas of Ujkovice and Domousnice. It lies below a wooded slope and includes wetland and meadow communities, reed beds, groups of trees and riverside vegetation. The area has a rich diversity of species and is significant as a zoological site.

The western edge of the Dymokursko Site of Community Importance (CZ0210101) also extends into the southeast of Ujkovice. Within the municipality, this area covers 59.54 ha, out of a total area of 4,309.24 ha. Thus, alongside the ponds, the proportions of a broader landscape are also central. Another striking natural feature is the oak tree in Ujkovice: on 19 May 2011, a documented trunk circumference of 840 cm was measured at a height of 1.3 m; its age is estimated at approximately 500 years.

Marked Trails for Different Day Plans

For a stay focused on exercise and the landscape, there are two marked trails with different routes. One marked hiking trail passes along the northern edge of Ujkovice and continues via the former military hospital, a recreational area and the former Karlovec forester's lodge to Ledce. These sites explicitly retain their former or historical character.

Another marked hiking route leads west from Ujkovice to Borečovský Pond and Kabát Pond. It circles both ponds on their eastern sides and then continues to Rabakov. This allows the pond landscape to be experienced not merely as an individual scenic point but as part of an established sequence of trails. When choosing accommodation, you can therefore first decide whether the focus of your stay should be on the fortification and local history, the ponds and natural areas, or the marked trails.

Historical Traces of the Railway

The history of the surrounding area also includes the former Dětenice–Dobrovice railway line. It was a single-track local line and was originally privately owned by Count Thurn-Taxis. Freight traffic began in 1883, and passenger services in 1902. Nationalization took place in 1908, passenger services ended in 1970, and the line was closed in 1974. These dates clearly place the railway line in the past and complement the history of the fortification with a more recent historical development of the region.

If you would like to continue your search beyond Ujkovice, you will also find Žďár, Chotětov, Sukorady, Plazy, Strašnov, Rohatsko, Veselice and Loukov.

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