Discover Vlčice: Castle, Park and Countryside

Vlčice brings together historic buildings, an English-style castle park, natural reed beds and cycling routes. Here, you can explore the history of the village as well as the landscape and its wildlife.

Landscape, Castle Park and Nature

The three cadastral areas of Vlčice cover a total of 1,865 hectares. The northeastern part lies in the gently rolling Vidnava Lowland, while the rest forms the foothills of the Rychlebské hory mountains. This means that two distinct landscape types meet within the municipality.

The English-style park at the castle was laid out by František Schaffgotsch in 1844–1845. The surviving castle park is smaller than its original area of more than 40 hectares and still contains many interesting old trees. A pond in front of the castle has also been partly preserved. Together with the moat, it was part of the defensive system of the former water castle. The park and the surviving water features add a landscape dimension to the history of the place.

Extensive reed beds lie in Dolní les, within the cadastral area of Vlčice. Marsh harriers regularly nest there; mute swans have also nested there in recent years. Reed warblers, reed buntings and common grasshopper warblers are found in areas with reed and cattail beds. For nature enthusiasts, the different details about these bird species are useful: nesting is noted for marsh harriers and mute swans, while the other species are noted as occurring in this habitat.

Church, Castle and Local History

Vlčice is one of the oldest municipalities in the Jeseník area. A document from 1248 is cited as evidence. Its architectural history also reaches back a long way: Vlčice Castle is a former manor house dating from the second half of the 16th century, built on the site of an earlier Gothic water castle. In 1829, it underwent a major renovation in the Empire style.

The parish church of St. Bartholomew is an example of Baroque architecture from the first half of the 18th century: it was remodeled in the Baroque style between 1732 and 1742. Another historical trace is the statue of St. John of Nepomuk, which dates from the second half of the 18th century. Together, the buildings and the castle surroundings reflect different phases of local history, from the medieval predecessor to later architectural changes.

Cycling Routes, Swimming Spot and Local Traditions

A signposted local cycling route passes through Vlčice. Check the signs on site if you plan to use it. The educational trail along cycling route 6044 passes through Bílá Voda, Růženec, Letiště, Javorník, Račí údolí, Uhelná, Vlčice and Hraničky. These place names give a specific indication of the trail’s route.

In the Dolní Les district, Dolnoleský rybník serves as a natural outdoor swimming spot. Check whether access is currently possible before visiting.

Local events also include clearly dated examples from the recent past: on August 23, 2025, the traditional St. Bartholomew pilgrimage took place in Vlčice; the following Sunday, a St. Bartholomew pilgrimage Mass was celebrated in the local church. At the traditional Den Jablek, an exhibition of promising apple varieties and a competition for Apple of the Year were held on October 22, 2022.

Discover more destinations: Supíkovice, Jeseník, Zlaté Hory, Rejvíz, Bobrovník, Vidnava, Stará Červená Voda, Žulová.

For the wider travel overview: Jeseník District.