Rtyne V Podkrkonosi – History, Views and the Rtyňský Circuit

Rtyně v Podkrkonoší combines local history, mining heritage and wide-ranging views across the landscape. This creates a destination with different paces: the Town Museum explains the historical background, the Rtyňský Circuit includes five stops, and family-oriented discoveries add a distinctive touch.

Town History in the Museum and the Townscape

The Rtyně v Podkrkonoší Town Museum is located in the former Památník 1775. In 1975, it was converted from the Rychetská stable to mark the 200th anniversary of the Peasant Revolt. In the ethnographic exhibition, you can see the furnishings of a peasant room as well as tools and everyday objects used by the population at the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries.

The Peasant Revolt of 1775 was a struggle by Czech peasants against the authorities, with the aim of freeing themselves from forced-labour and serfdom obligations. It is connected with the so-called “selského guberna”, led by the judge Antonín Nývlt from Rtyně v Podkrkonoší, which united the rebellious subjects. Two monuments commemorate these events: In front of the main entrance to the cemetery stands a statue of King David, made in 1730 from local red sandstone in the workshop of Matyáš Bernard Braun. Near the museum, a statue of the rebel created by František David in 1975 commemorates Antonín Nývlt Rychetský and the peasant unrest of 1775.

The historic architecture includes the listed log cabin, also known as Roubená chalupa No. 53, an agricultural farmstead of exceptional historical and architectural value. Its residential section, with a smoke room, dates from 1547. The Town Museum provides guided tours with explanations of the Rtyně bell tower. A tactile museum route includes touchable replicas of selected exhibits, labels in Braille and two Czech-language audio guides.

Views and a Route Through Mining History

From the chapel above Rtyně v Podkrkonoší, there is an impressive view of the Rtyně and Svatoňovice basin, framed by the Jestřebí Mountains. The Rtyňský Circuit begins and ends at the Town Museum. It is also known as the Mining Monuments Educational Trail, is 9.6 km long, includes five stops and is considered moderately difficult to challenging. With its length and its rating as moderately difficult to challenging, the circuit is a self-contained active programme alongside a visit to the museum and an exploration of the townscape.

Playful Discoveries for Children

For children, Permonický důl offers an adventure game in a historic cellar with four tasks. They search among stones for coal, identify mining-related objects and look for a piece of gold. This playful approach complements the historical and route-based activities in Rtyně v Podkrkonoší.

More Destinations for Orientation

For further travel planning, you can also find Choustnikovo Hradiste, Horni Brusnice, Hajnice, Hertvikovice, Třebihošť, Hostinne, Zdobín and Johannisbad.

For the higher-level travel overview: Okres Trutnov.