Horní Bradlo: Nature, Chapel and Via Czechia

Horní Bradlo combines a protected landscape with a remarkable local history. The village lies in the Železné hory Protected Landscape Area; the cadastral area also contains the Polom Nature Reserve, which is also known as the Polom primeval forest. If you would like to combine nature and culture during your stay, you will find two clearly distinct points of interest here: the landscape around Polom and the sites directly connected with Horní Bradlo.

Landscape and hiking orientation

The village name itself also refers to a distinctive landscape feature. Horní Bradlo derives its name from an isolated rock or rocky cliff, known in geology as a bradlo. The term is therefore part of the explanation of the village name and preserves a specific connection to the geological form, without requiring any further characteristics of the terrain to be inferred from it.

A change in the route layout is important for hiking orientation: The green-marked hiking route that previously ran through the Polom Nature Reserve has been rerouted outside the protected area since May 2023 for reasons of hiker safety. Anyone planning a hike in this part of Horní Bradlo should take this documented route layout into account and not automatically assume that the route passes through the nature reserve.

Chapel and the history of the village

A defining cultural monument is the filial Chapel of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary in Horní Bradlo. It was built in the Neo-Gothic style from 1892 to 1894 and contains the family crypt of the Rükl family.

The design of the building contains notable details: The slender windows of the Chapel of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and its eastern rose window contain stained glass. Together with its designation as a cultural monument, the chapel is a distinctive landmark of Horní Bradlo. For your visit to the village, this creates a cultural focal point that clearly differs from the natural surroundings of the Protected Landscape Area and the Polom Nature Reserve.

The former Vilemínina huť glassworks is also part of the local history. It was named in honour of Princess Vilemí­na Auerspergová. Guided tours for schools, kindergartens, groups and families are offered on the site of the former glassworks. The historical name and the current guided-tour programme should be regarded as two separate aspects: The glassworks is preserved as a former site, while the tours take place on the premises.

The Vánoční Království in Horní Bradlo offers another family-oriented attraction. It features an exhibition of rocking horses and retro toys. The exhibition thus adds its own accent alongside the chapel, the glassworks history and the landscape, and may be particularly interesting when different age groups want to explore different topics together.

Via Czechia and choosing where to stay

The main Via Czechia hiking trail passes through Horní Bradlo. The village has a shelter, a restaurant, a grocery store and a bus connection. When looking for accommodation, you can therefore consider whether a stay in a village along a long-distance hiking trail suits your plans.

Other destinations at the same level

For further orientation at the same destination level, you can also find Jeníkov, Nabočany, Vyžice, Stolany, Mrákotín, Rvacov, České Lhotice and Řestoky.

For the higher-level travel overview: Chrudim District.