Horní Brusnice – Kalské Valley and Kostelní Trail

Horní Brusnice combines a protected river landscape, rural architecture and routes to Zvičina. Between nature observation, local history and active excursions, it creates a multifaceted picture of this Czech destination, bringing together a variety of interests.

Natural Area and Landscape

The Kalské Valley natural monument covers part of the cadastral area of Horní Brusnice. It protects the valley of the Bystřice stream, with its natural course, riverside vegetation and wet meadows. Threatened and protected plant and animal species can be found there. The Bystřice meanders naturally through the valley between trees and meadows, providing a habitat for rare aquatic animals. Open meadows, vegetated banks and a near-natural stream course thus come together in a small area.

The Bystřice rises on the boundary between Horní Brusnice and Vidonice; there, the river forms a natural cadastral boundary. In the surrounding area are Perna Hill [Třebihošť] and Kozel Hill [Dolní Brusnice]. These landscape features complement the view of the valley with more pronounced relief, without changing the character of the protected stream area.

Routes to Zvičina

The Kostelní Trail is a restored historic route between Horní Brusnice and Mount Zvičina. It is 3.5 km long and runs alongside the red tourist trail marking, following green-and-white stripes. The clearly defined length makes it easier to plan your own section of the route, while the historic connection links the walk with the history of the village and landscape.

The Kostelní Trail features a forest educational trail with wooden interactive elements and stations for the frottage technique, meaning the rubbing of textures. A mobile application is used to collect animal sounds. The interactive forest educational trail station Lesní naučná stezka in Horní Brusnice is located along the Kostelní cesta educational trail route, which leads from Horní Brusnice to the summit of Zvičina, and conveys knowledge about life in the forest. In this way, the route combines exercise with observation and practical discoveries.

Cyclists also have their own connection to Zvičina: a cycling tour runs between Horní Brusnice and Zvičina along Route 4086. Hiking and cycling therefore lead in the same landscape direction along different routes.

Church and Rural Architecture

The main altar of the Church of St. Nicholas in Horní Brusnice was painted by Countess Gabriela Deym. A parish church already existed in Horní Brusnice in 1384. The church’s history therefore reaches far back and complements the natural experiences with a firm cultural landmark in the village.

Rural homestead No. 169 in Horní Brusnice is a timbered folk building with wooden gable decoration. The folk buildings in Horní Brusnice also include those known as the “Zvičinské chalupy.” Together with the church, these structures show how clearly the village’s history remains visible even in the smaller details of rural architecture.

More destinations for orientation

If you would like to compare more places for planning your trip, you can also find pages here for Žacléř, Javorník, Petrikovice, Velky Vrestov, Bílé Poličany, Horní Marsov, Markousovice and Vitezna.

To the higher-level travel overview: Trutnov District.