Zderaz – Sandstone, Village History and Paths through Maštale

Zderaz combines an illustrative village history with a landscape of sandstone, gorges and protected natural areas. Those looking for accommodation in Zderaz can therefore structure their stay around two different experiences: cultural and historical discoveries directly in the village and excursions into the surroundings of Maštale and Pivnice.

Sandstone and History in the Village

One particularly impressive sight is Zderaz’s largest accessible dwelling carved into the sandstone. It comprises a living area and a stable and features a replica of a historic clay oven. The dwelling carved into the sandstone at the southern end of Zderaz is also a protected monument. A smaller accessible cellar provides an additional insight: it houses a photo exhibition about Zderaz’s preserved cellars. At the Zderazský domeček, the village’s history is presented in a permanent exhibition. Its topics include washing, farming, weaving and skiing; the exhibition also covers local history. The Zderazský domeček is located in the village centre on the main road towards Skuteč and Nové Hrady. This makes it an important cultural point of interest at a clearly identifiable location in the village. Another important monument in Zderaz is the Chapel of Saint John of Nepomuk.

Maštale and Rock Formations

The Maštale Nature Reserve extends across the cadastral area of Zderaz. It covers 1,083.6 hectares and is characterised by a rolling relief with significant Upper Cretaceous, particularly glauconitic Cenomanian sandstones. This geological foundation explains the distinctive character of the rock landscape, without limiting the natural attractions to a single viewpoint. The natural rock formation Zajíc, with a statue of a hare, is located near Zderaz. Marked paths lead there from Zderaz or from the trail junction near the Polanka hut. The Kapalice spring is also located near the Polanka hut, approximately 500 metres away. A marked path to the spring is suitable for cyclists and small children. Between Zderaz and the Polanka hut lie the Kúpadla, three small ponds arranged one above the other. The natural rock formation Kazatelna is located between Polanka and Bor u Skutče; a cycle path passes by it.

Circular Routes and Important Access Information

The Pivnická stezka circular route is 22.4 kilometres long and leads through the Pivnice rock gorge and Zderaz. Another described route runs as Zderaz–Pivnice–Zderaz: it begins in Zderaz on blue cycle route No. 8 towards Dolany, then leads through the gorge back to the blue cycle route and to Zderaz. Zderaz is therefore designated as a starting point for visiting the Pivnice natural monument. For current visit planning, however, the access situation is decisive. The Pivnice natural monument is temporarily closed due to a landslide and ongoing damage to the gorge walls. Public access is restricted to the tourist-marked path until 22 May 2030. The described routes and the documented closure should therefore be considered separately: the route describes the course, while access to the gorge is subject to particular restrictions.

More Places to Include in Your Search

If you would like to look at other places in addition to Zderaz, you can find Rostejn, Lany, Kočí, Morašice, Ronov nad Doubravou, Horní Bradlo, Hodonín U Nasavrk and Hamry U Hlinska here as well.

For the higher-level travel overview: Chrudim District.