Horní Kamenice – Castle Ruins, Forest and Local History

Horní Kamenice combines landscapes, local history and regional events into a destination offering a variety of ways to explore. The village stretches across both slopes of the valley of the Srbický potok and lies on the edge of the extensive Vytůň forest area. It is also home to Gothic castle ruins, a historic chapel, preserved rural architectural features, as well as trails and festivals with their own distinctive character.

Landscape, Village Character and Early History

The location between the valley slopes and the forest shapes the way visitors orient themselves in Horní Kamenice. Archaeological finds in the surrounding area indicate relatively permanent settlement from the Middle Bronze Age to the end of the Early Iron Age. A Bronze Age burial mound field is located behind Horní Kamenice, in a forest in the direction of Mytě. The history of the village therefore reaches significantly further back than its visible buildings and present-day events.

Horní Kamenice has preserved its typical village character, with gabled roofs and vernacular Neoclassical façades on most houses. So-called gates have also survived at houses No. 3 and No. 5. Horní Kamenice Park lies at the foot of the hill in the direction of Vejpich and includes a municipal well. During your stay, you can thus combine the village character, landscape and historical traces.

Castle Ruins, Fortress and Chapel

The Gothic Lacembok castle ruins are located in the cadastral area of Horní Kamenice. Clearly preserved fortifications and the basic structure of the castle can still be recognized today. An information board is located on the upper plateau of the site. The ruins therefore provide a specific historical focal point within the village, although its history is not limited to a single building.

The Hornokamenická Fortress is also part of the village’s history. It is connected with the Panský dvůr and dates back to the 13th century. A more recent historical layer is represented by the Chapel of Saint John of Nepomuk: it was built in 1902 after the older chapel was destroyed by fire. The chapel is also part of the pilgrimage celebrations “Slavnost kaple svatého Jana Nepomuckého”, which include a Mass.

Hiking, Cycling and Regional Festivals

If you would like to explore Horní Kamenice actively, the educational and hiking trail “Naučná stezka Po stopách Jiráskovy Lucerny” runs through the cadastral area of the village. For a cycling trip, the “Na kole na koláč” event is a good option. It follows forest roads to Krchleby, where participants can enjoy the regional specialty Krchlebský koláč, and takes place at the beginning of October as the closing event of the cycling season.

The events calendar adds further highlights: in Horní Kamenice, the Masopust procession always takes place on the Saturday before Shrove Tuesday. The “Sjezd na čemkoliv” event starts in Vejpich and ends at the park. Depending on when you travel, historical sightseeing, a hiking trail, a cycling trip or a local festival can become the main focus of your stay.

More Destinations

More destinations: Nový Kramolín, Pivon, Kolovec, Puclice, Osvračín, Vlkanov, Trhanov, Všepadly.

To the higher-level travel overview: Okres Domažlice.