Hajnice – Landscape, History and Cycling

Hajnice lies on a plain open to the north, bordered to the south by the Liščí vrch massif. Together with Kamenný vrch, which forms part of this southern boundary and reaches 609 metres, it creates a clearly recognizable landscape setting. This means you can discover Hajnice both through its history and its location between the plain and the southern highlands.

Historical traces in Hajnice

Hajnice was first mentioned in writing as a small town in 1260. Since the early Middle Ages, a so-called Salt Road has passed through the village from the Bohemian interior to what is now Poland. This historic connection is one of the facts that places Hajnice in a wider context beyond the individual settlement. Today, the village is also connected by roads to Trutnov, Dvůr Králové nad Labem, Jaroměř, Úpice, Staré Buky and Kohoutov. If you plan your trip on a regional basis, these connections provide a concrete point of reference, although no specific journey times can be inferred from them.

One of the notable buildings is the Church of Saint Nicholas. It was built between 1754 and 1782 on the site of a 13th-century church destroyed by fire. Another cultural and historical trace can be found in Dolní Žďár: the Roman Catholic Church of Saint John the Baptist is protected as a cultural monument of the Czech Republic and is located in the municipality of Hajnice. In Hajnice, it is considered a prominent landmark and historic building.

The surviving bell in Hajnice was cast in 1559. The bell tower in Hajnice was built around the turn of the 15th and 16th centuries. House No. 104 contains a former smithy; an exhibition gallery for the works of its owner was added to this former smithy. Several log cabins dating from around the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries have also been preserved in the Mravenčí domky settlement. In Hajnice, you will therefore encounter not only individual dates, but also various examples of the settlement's history and architectural heritage.

Cycling and further discoveries

If you would like to explore Hajnice by bicycle, cycling route 11a passes through the village. In the Kyje district, the “Ranč Uncle Billa” complex was newly built; horseback riding was available there. The two references represent different ways of planning your surroundings: the cycling route provides a documented connection to cycling, while Kyje is associated with a previously documented opportunity for horseback riding.

When looking for suitable accommodation, you can first determine your personal focus: Are you primarily interested in historic buildings and settlement traces, in the landscape around Liščí vrch and Kamenný vrch, or in trip planning connected with cycling route 11a? Hajnice offers several clearly distinguishable themes, without equating any accommodation with a single experience.

Further places for your research

If you would like to continue planning your trip beyond Hajnice, here are some further places to help you get your bearings: Trotina, Javorník, Petrikovice, Čermná v Krkonoších, Horni Brusnice, Pec Pod Snežkou, Spindlermühle and Vlčkovice V Podkrkonoší.

For the higher-level travel overview: Trutnov District.