Kařez between Ponds, History and Forests

Kařez combines impressive nature with clearly discernible traces of history. The main attractions are the Kařezské rybníky natural monument, the Church of St. John of Nepomuk and memorial sites connected with the history of the Second World War. There are also forests for walks and hikes, as well as rail and road connections that may play a practical role when choosing a destination. Kařez therefore offers various starting points for a stay combining landscape, culture and peaceful discovery.

Ponds, Waterfowl and Forests Around Kařez

The Kařezské rybníky are a protected natural monument that also extends into the cadastral area of Kařez. The area consists of four ponds: Dolejší Kařezský, Hořejší Kařezský, Bechyňský and Němec. The ponds protect breeding and migratory habitats for waterfowl, giving the surrounding area ecological importance.

Three new pools have also been completed within the natural monument. They are filled with water and are beginning to fulfil their ecological function. Together with the ponds, they create a landscape in which bodies of water and habitats are closely interconnected. The forests and ponds around Kařez are used for recreation and relaxation. The surrounding forests are suitable for walks and hikes, as well as for collecting mushrooms and wild berries. Depending on your interests, a stay can therefore be arranged as a quiet experience or one involving longer routes.

Church and Historical Traces

One of Kařez’s defining landmarks is the Church of St. John of Nepomuk. It was built between 1942 and 1947 and is considered the youngest ecclesiastical building in the Rokycany District. There is also a specific detail to discover inside: the main altar consists of five paintings. For visitors who want to get to know places through more than their outward appearance, the church thus provides a clearly defined cultural focus.

Further historical traces are scattered throughout the village and its surroundings. The former school in Kařez is a historic building dating from 1830. Some of the workers’ houses built according to a uniform design have survived to this day; they include the groups of houses now known as “Pětidomí” and “sedmidomí.” The partisan memorial in Kařez commemorates the Podbrdy partisans, who were active in the area during the Second World War.

Smaller memorial sites also form part of the area’s character. The rectangular stone known as a “smírčí kámen” bears a raised relief of a Latin cross. Around 3 km east of Kařez there is also a partisan bunker dating from 1943, where nine partisans hid. Another partisan shelter lies on a slope along a blue-marked hiking trail. It can be reached via an access path with wooden steps. The two sites represent different forms of historical remembrance: one focuses on a specific hiding place, while the other incorporates a shelter into a marked hiking trail.

Rail and Road Connections to Kařez

Kařez railway station is located on line 170 between Beroun, Plzeň and Klatovy. The station building and all platforms are accessible without barriers. For those travelling by car, a junction of the D5 motorway between Prague and Plzeň is 2.5 km from Kařez.

More Places for Planning Your Trip

If you would like to continue your research beyond Kařez and compare different places, you can find Sirá, Skořice, Štítov, Raková, Mešno, Sebečice, Dobriv and Všenice here.

For the higher-level travel overview: Rokycany District.