Vraclav

Vraclav between Baroque, Hillfort and Spiritual Circular Trail

Vraclav brings together several historical layers in a small area: an impressive Baroque complex, an early medieval hillfort and a spiritual circular trail connecting the town with Vysoké Mýto. This creates a destination where a visit focused on cultural history can be combined with a longer walk and small discoveries along the roadside.

The Baroque Complex with St. Nicholas Church

At the centre is the pilgrimage Church of St. Nicholas, a Baroque cultural monument dating from 1724–1726. It is the dominant building of the Vraclav Baroque Complex and one of its most important attractions. Inside the church, visitors can see a unique complex of Baroque sculptures. The complex also includes an exhibition of Baroque polychrome-painted wooden sculptures. The colourful sculptures give the visit its own visual character and make the Baroque complex interesting even if you are interested not only in architectural history but also in sacred art.

Other exhibitions explore Vraclav’s rich history. At the Baroque complex, you can also visit the hermit’s quarters. The site therefore goes beyond a single church, presenting various facets of its religious and local past. A special addition is the Fráterka, a wooden hermitage dating from 1692. It stands on the slope between the former spa building and the church. The hermit of the Fráterka collected and dried herbs there – a specific detail that vividly illustrates the site’s former use.

Along Spiritual Circular Trail C

Those who do not want to visit Vraclav only briefly can use Spiritual Circular Trail C as a longer route. It leads from Vysoké Mýto via Vraclav and back again, and is almost 20 kilometres long. Nine sandstone panels stand along the route. The trail thus combines exercise with religiously oriented wayfinding, without reducing Vraclav to merely a single sightseeing stop. When planning your day, the key distinction is between a short stay at the Baroque complex and an extended walk.

A small station on the main road is also one of the town’s traditional features: visitors can draw water at any time from the hermit’s jug on the well there. This detail complements the larger attractions with an immediately accessible connection to the hermit tradition.

The Hradisko of Vraclav

The Hradisko of Vraclav offers a different historical perspective. It is a prehistoric and early medieval hillfort that still served as an administrative centre in the first half of the 13th century. Remains of a defensive rampart are visible at Hradisko. At the same time, it is considered an important archaeological site in category ÚAN I. Those interested in the development of settlements and areas of rule will therefore find a clear contrast here to the Baroque appearance of the church and exhibitions.

Vraclav developed in the outer bailey area of the Přemyslid wooden castle of Vratislav, which protected the so-called Trstenická Trail. A monument dating from 1908 also commemorates the murder of leading members of the Vršovci family in 1108. Together with Hradisko, this historical connection broadens the perspective beyond the Baroque period.

More Destinations at a Glance

For further orientation, you can also find Krasíkov, Klásterec Nad Orlicí, Tisová, Zářecká Lhota, Horní Třešňovec, Česká Třebová, Jablonne Nad Orlici and Záchlumí U Žamberka.

For the higher-level travel overview: Ústí Nad Orlicí District.