Discover Horní Bělá

Horní Bělá combines a diverse nature trail with unusual stone structures, traces of medieval history and a landscape surrounding Černý rybník. Depending on the day of your trip, different experiences can take center stage: a longer route with information stations, a traditional hiking march, cultural and historical landmarks or distinctive geomantic designs.

Nature Trail and Hiking Routes

The Stezka Hornobělskem nature and adventure trail is approximately 15.5 km long. The route can be traveled by bicycle or kick scooter and has 13 stations with information boards and interactive elements. It therefore combines physical activity with stops where the surrounding area can be explored not only through the route itself, but also through themed information. Anyone who enjoys making a trip active and varied at the same time will find a clearly defined format here, with several ways to get around.

The Hornobělská 30 offers a different form of hiking. The traditional hiking march takes place regularly on the third Saturday in February. It offers 10-, 20- and 30-km routes through the landscape around Horní Bělá. The three route lengths focus on different aspects, without requiring you to commit to just one distance. The Memoriál Františka Hebedy is another special date in the events calendar. It is an annual forest and tracking trial for dogs of small breeds. The first edition took place in October 1984; the event has been held continuously to this day.

Castle Site, Chapels and Stone Signs

The history of the area includes the Vrtba castle site, which is classified as a significant archaeological site. Hrad Vrtba was one of the noble castles built around the turn of the 13th and 14th centuries. At Hrad Vrtba, the earthworks of the perimeter fortifications and a pond system with a mill have been preserved. These details give the historic site a tangible character without reducing it to a single date.

Sacred buildings are also part of the local landscape. The Kaplička Zvěstování Panny Marie was built in the Baroque style in 1736 and is a border chapel between Horní Bělá and Dolní Bělá. The Chapel of St. John of Nepomuk is designated as a cultural monument. At Výhledové místo u sv. Martina, an installation consists of a large central stone with three cosmograms carved by Jan Tajboš. The site thus combines a specific artistic work with an unusual way of viewing the landscape.

Menhirs, Geopuncture and Černý rybník

The Megalitický kamenný kruh Horní Bělá is located on a hill above Horní Bělá. The stone circle is enclosed by 21 large menhirs and creates a striking accent in the landscape. This theme is complemented by the Hornobělské kamenné spirály, stone geopuncture rows created by geomancers. According to the geomancers, the constellation at Výhledové místo u sv. Martina is dedicated to the plant world. This wording explicitly refers to that view and makes the site an independent cultural and landscape theme.

Another distinctive feature is Černý rybník (Porajt). It is fed by an inflow from Hatě, waterlogged meadows and forest bogs. The pond has probably been used for recreational purposes for more than 100 years. It is precisely the combination of water, wet meadows and forest bogs that distinguishes this landscape feature from the historical and stone sights around Horní Bělá.

More Destinations to Consider

For further orientation, you can also include Manetin, Žilov, Nýřany, Ulice, Líně, Pastuchovice, Heřmanova Huť and Potvorov in your selection.

For the higher-level travel overview: Plzeň-Sever District.