Skuteč: Discover music, history and a granite landscape

Skuteč between musical heritage and a granite landscape

Skuteč combines an impressive musical history with sacred art and a nature trail past abandoned or flooded granite quarries. This gives the town different points of interest for a stay: you can explore the lives of important musicians, discover historical details in churches or explore the landscape around Skuteč along a signposted trail.

Music and the culture of remembrance

The Památník V. Nováka includes the composer’s preserved study, a music room with a piano and a museum room about his life and work, with a particular connection to Skuteč. Another musical attraction is the Rodný dům V. J. Tomáška. Since 2000, the composer’s birthplace has served as a permanent memorial to V. J. Tomášek.

The Tomáškova a Novákova hudební Skuteč event is also part of the town’s musical identity. It was held for the 21st time. It featured a two-month programme of concerts and performances in Skuteč and the surrounding area. The event therefore represents an extended cultural programme and complements the permanent memorials with its own event format.

Historical landmarks in the town

The Kostel Nanebevzetí Panny Marie preserves several details of notable art-historical significance. These include a Renaissance sandstone pulpit dating from 1560 to 1570 and a pewter baptismal font from 1318. Fragments of wall paintings from the early 16th century have also been preserved in the presbytery. The Kostel Božího těla is a single-nave Gothic church built in 1391.

Other examples of stonework and sculpture include the Mariánský sloup, with statues of Saint Wenceslas, Saint Joseph, Saint Florian and Saint Ludmila. An Immaculata on a globe stands in the centre. The late Gothic burgher building Zvěřinův dům has a stone portal from the first half of the 16th century and is probably the oldest house in Skuteč.

The Socha sv. Jana Nepomuckého is a sandstone statue from 1747. It stands in a niche of house no. 43 on V.-Nováka Street. It is precisely the combination of individual architectural details, sculptures and memorial sites that makes discovering Skuteč’s culture varied, even though not all the landmarks date from the same historical period.

Nature trail past abandoned or flooded granite quarries

For an active complement to the cultural sites, the Žulová stezka Horkami trail is an ideal choice. The 4.5-kilometre nature trail, with 17 stops, leads through the area around Skuteč and past abandoned or flooded granite quarries. Along the route, you will find historic facilities from the quarrying industry, educational and play elements, as well as rest areas.

The trail also includes videos and augmented-reality applications. These link digital content with the surrounding area. A guide with a map is available at the Městské muzeum Skuteč or can be downloaded. This allows cultural sites and a landscape exploration to be combined thematically when planning a day of your stay.

Getting oriented locally

The Regionální muzeum Skuteč is partially wheelchair accessible.

More places to choose from

Hošťalovice, Míčov-Sušice, Střemošice, Dolní Bezděkov, Rabštejnská Lhota, Mladoňovice, Žlebské Chvalovice, Chrast

To the main travel overview: Chrudim District.