Parizov: Church, Reservoir and Doubrava Valley

Pařížov combines an exceptional historical monument with a waterside landscape. The Church of St. Mary Magdalene is the oldest building in Pařížov and stands on a rocky promontory above the river at the northwestern edge of the village. Its Romanesque architecture and preserved wooden structural elements make it a particularly distinctive landmark for anyone wishing to discover culture and landscape together. The wooden elements have been dendrochronologically dated to the beginning of the 12th century.

Church and traces of history

Directly below the Church of St. Mary Magdalene, old stone walls lie on the slope above the river. Together with the church’s elevated position, they create a dense historical setting here, without reducing Pařížov to a single building. The old road from Pařížov towards Moravany is also noteworthy: it is associated with the route of the original Libická (Liběcká) Trail. For your travel planning, this opens up a second perspective on the village, because in addition to the surviving building, its historical connection through the landscape is also part of what makes it distinctive.

Another historical focal point is Pařížov Dam. It was built on the Doubrava River between 1909 and 1913. Its construction was a response to the major floods and inundations of 1885, 1888, 1897 and 1908. The dam therefore represents not only a technical transformation of the river area, but also tells of the conditions to which its construction was a response.

Reservoir, Doubrava and nature park

Pařížov Reservoir is part of Doubrava Nature Park and is used for recreation and fishing. Upstream from the reservoir, a romantic valley stretches along the Doubrava, with smaller rock outcrops and mixed woodland. This makes it possible to combine different priorities when choosing your activities: historical discoveries at the church and dam are set against a landscape shaped by the river, forest and rock formations.

The nature around the structure is also of particular significance. The outlet tunnel of Pařížov Dam is an important wintering site for the barbastelle bat, a species of bat. This detail adds a less obvious dimension to the view of the reservoir: the structure is interesting not only as a technical or landscape feature, but is also connected with an important habitat.

A hidden detail in the middle of the village

In the centre of Pařížov there is an old millrace tunnel with a stone vault. Water flows through it beneath the extensive mill yard and the foundations of the adjacent barn. The vaulted section is approximately 30 metres long, excluding the bridge. The tunnel is on private property and is not accessible to the public. This restriction is important for your orientation: the structure is part of the local history, but is not an openly accessible attraction.

Getting there and comparing other localities

Pařížov can be reached by bus via Běstvina or Pařížov; alternatively, via Třemošnice. Which accommodation location makes sense for you therefore depends mainly on whether you want to focus your stay more on the historical sites, the reservoir or the landscape along the Doubrava. If you want to compare other places for your research, you can find the direct destinations here: Tuněchody, Stolany, Klešice, Bor U Skutce, Trhová Kamenice, České Lhotice, Holetín and Rabštejnská Lhota.

For the higher-level travel overview: Chrudim District.