Stráž: History, Nature and Travel Experiences

Stráž combines clearly identifiable traces of the past with a landscape where granite formations, marked trails and the Sycherák leisure centre offer a range of travel experiences. If you would like to combine history and nature during your stay, you will find several distinct points of interest here – from medieval remains to a nature park and the town’s layered history.

History in tangible traces

West of Stráž lies the Nový hrad archaeological site. Its irregular square ground plan, a partly water-filled moat, an elevated acropolis and a substantial rampart define the site. The medieval site near Stráž is interpreted as a guard station or customs post dating from around the turn of the 12th and 13th centuries. It is precisely this cautious classification that makes Nový hrad a place where its former function is revealed not through modern use, but through the surviving features of the terrain.

The history of the town itself is also dated with unusual precision: Stráž received a royal privilege on 23 August 1331. This included, among other things, a weekly market to be held every Saturday. Another historical testimony is the Jewish cemetery near Stráž. It is one of the oldest Jewish cemeteries in Bohemia and is documented in written sources for the year 1450. A stone enclosure wall, 21 gravestones, the pillars of the former gate and a pedestrian entrance have survived. St. Wenceslas Church also defines the silhouette of Stráž and forms a prominent landmark visible from far away.

Valcha Nature Park and trails through the landscape

Established in 1980, Valcha Nature Park extends across the cadastral areas of Stráž u Tachova, Borek u Tachova, Bernartice u Stráže, Strachovice u Bernartic, Olešná and Bonětice. The park contains large granite blocks and rock formations created by frost weathering. As a result, the landscape has a distinctly different character from a purely cultivated landscape: alongside the local historic and architectural landmarks, natural rock formations take centre stage here.

The nature park lies on the edge of the Valcha settlement along a yellow-marked trail towards Borek u Tachova. This precise trail connection helps you incorporate the natural attractions into your travel plans without conflating Stráž’s historic destinations with the park. When choosing accommodation in Stráž, you can therefore consider whether the town’s history, the natural environment or a combination of both should be the focus of your stay.

Transport and leisure at Sycherák

Stráž is connected to public bus and rail services. The area’s leisure attractions include the Sycherák leisure centre, which offers opportunities for swimming, camping and fishing. This allows culturally oriented days and time by the water to be viewed as different elements of a trip, without requiring them to offer the same type of experience.

Other destinations to consider

If you would like to compare other destinations in addition to Stráž, you will find Horní Kozolupy, Bezdružice, Třemešné, Lesná, Lestkov, Kostelec U Stříbra, Prostiboř and Cernosin here.

For the broader travel overview: Tachov District.