Discover Svídnice: Church, Nature Reserve and Trails along the Chrudimka

The documented attractions around Svídnice range from protected forests to Gothic architecture and historic industrial sites. The Strádovské Peklo Nature Reserve extends into the cadastral area of Svídnice u Slatiňan and covers 87.32 hectares. It protects a complex of semi-natural scree forests with endangered plant and animal species. If you would like to combine nature, local history and activity, you will find several clearly different starting points here for planning your trip.

Cultural history in Práčov and Svídnice

The cultural focus is in Práčov. The Church of St James is the oldest surviving building in the municipality of Svídnice; part of the building dates from 1364 to 1369. Listed as a cultural monument under catalogue number 992, it is considered an important example of mature Gothic architecture from the Luxembourg period. Its organ, dating from 1815, was put back into operation in 2015.

Also in Práčov, the prehistoric hillfort site still has visible remains of its fortification system, particularly along the path to Trpišov. It lies mostly on private land. There is also a bell tower in the village square of Svídnice. It is a cultural monument with a Neoclassical octagonal base and a roof. The Horní mlýn paper mill, building no. 9 by the reservoir, is also located in Svídnice. The private 18th-century building is associated with the municipality’s most significant period of economic prosperity. The paper mill was founded in 1714; at the beginning of the 19th century, it was expanded to include a mill. For planning purposes, these sites can be grouped by interest: religious architecture, the history of fortifications and the development of a historic industrial site each offer a distinct focus.

Hiking Trails, Cycle Route and the Chrudimka

A blue-marked hiking trail passes through Svídnice; a yellow-marked hiking trail leads from Slatiňany to Práčov. A marked local cycle route also runs through Práčov. The different connections to the localities can help you determine the focus of your tour without presupposing distances or walking times. If you would like to accommodate different interests when travelling with children, you can weigh cultural sites, trails and landscape features separately in your planning.

The ruins of Strádov Castle lie in the vicinity of Svídnice, southeast of Práčov, on a rocky promontory on the right bank of the Chrudimka; the castle dates from the 14th century. Southwest of Práčov lies the Slavická game preserve, where red deer and mouflon are kept. The Vlastivědná stezka Krajem Chrudimky educational trail runs between the Křižanovice reservoir and the Práčov balancing reservoir. In this section, the Chrudimka has created a deep, gorge-like inversion valley. The term inversion refers here to reversed temperature conditions in the valley.

Further places for your research

For further orientation, you can also look at Holetín, Ctětín, Podhořany U Ronova, Úhřetice, Vojtěchov, Trhová Kamenice, Mladoňovice and Jenišovice U Chrudimi.

For the higher-level travel overview: Chrudim District.