Discover Ohnišťany

Ohnišťany combines an impressive local history with a 32 km cycling route through a flat landscape. Those wishing to combine culture and cycling in the Czech Republic will find two distinct ways to do so here: historical traces in the village and a route with little elevation change that follows Class III roads and paved local paths.

Fortress, Church, and Baroque Art

The history of Ohnišťany goes back a long way. A fortress is documented as early as 1318. The former complex stood on a plot of land that is still called “Zámeček” today. Its historical form included a moat fed by the stream of the former settlement of Nové Ohnišťany. Remains of the walls of the original farmstead can still be seen at stables No. 102 and No. 116. The farmstead itself was built by Albrecht z Valdštejna around 1624–1626. Thus, several traces from different periods exist side by side in Ohnišťany’s local history.

The church, too, offers specific details for a cultural discovery. The painting on the main altar dates from 1871 and was created by the academic painter Alois Sajfrt from Vrchlabí. A comprehensive renovation of the church interior was commissioned in 1910 by the church’s then patron and owner of Podlesí, Kadlík. After a fire, the church was rebuilt in its present form. The village also has a pillar bearing a statue of Saint John of Nepomuk. In 2005, the Ministry of Culture declared it a cultural monument and described the statue as a high-quality work of East Bohemian Baroque sculpture.

Cycling Through a Flat Landscape

The Kladruby nad Labem–Ohnišťany cycling route runs for 32 km through Ohnišťany. Its flat landscape with little elevation change clearly distinguishes it from routes where steep climbs define the experience. For families or groups traveling at different speeds, this information provides an objective basis for assessing the type of day they would like to plan. The route follows Class III roads and paved local paths; this documented combination is precisely what characterizes the route.

The railway line running from Chlumec nad Cidlinou via Stará Paka to Trutnov also forms part of the region’s orientation. The railway in the Ohnišťany area was built between 1867 and 1870. This does not constitute current travel or service information, but the line adds to the historical picture of the village’s development.

An Event from the Village’s Recent History

On Saturday, June 7, 2025, Mateřská škola Sedmikráska held the traditional “Ohnišťanský pedál” cycling tour. The date shows that cycling was also visible in Ohnišťany’s local events calendar; however, it is a past date and not an indication of a future event.

When choosing accommodation, you can therefore first decide whether the focus of your trip should be on Ohnišťany’s historical attractions or on the documented cycling route. For further searches for suitable destinations, you can also consider Lovčice, Chudeřice, Písek, Puchlovice, Černilov, Lochenice, Nepolisy and Dobřenice.

For the broader travel overview: Hradec Králové District.