Kovářov: Trails, Folklore and Historical Discoveries

The Kovářovsko region combines a pleasantly hilly landscape with remarkable historical landmarks and unusually diverse opportunities for discovery. Between hills, forests, and numerous ponds and smaller ponds, Kovářovsko reveals itself as an area with a rich variety of plant and animal life. Added to this are distinctive rock formations and boulders in various shapes. Those who wish to combine nature, regional history, and active exploration during their stay will find several clearly distinct options here.

Educational Trails Between Landscape and Folk Traditions

The Naučná stezka Kovářovska educational trail offers three routes with a total of 21 stops. Together, the three routes cover 50 km and invite visitors to get to know the surrounding area. In terms of content, the stops focus on the folk traditions of Kovářovsko. The educational trail is therefore not only a way to cross the landscape, but also combines the route with regional customs.

Another way to explore the area is the geolocation game “Objevte Kovářovsko”. An interactive mobile application guides visitors through 56 interesting places and supplements the stops with information, photographs, illustrations, maps, and tasks. After downloading the application, the game can be played offline. It can be started at any selected location; the individual stages can be played in any order, interrupted at any time, and continued later. This makes it possible to discover Kovářovsko in freely chosen sections, without imposing a set order.

Church, Rectory, and Historical Landmarks

In the centre of Kovářov, at the northwestern corner of the village square, stands the single-nave Church of All Saints. It is considered the oldest monument in Kovářov and was already a parish church in 1220. Its location also makes it an important urban-planning feature. The village is also home to the old Baroque rectory dating from 1739. Its mansard roof is considered typical of buildings on the Orlík estate.

One of the most important historical monuments in Kovářov is the Kalvárie sculpture group. The village is also home to a statue of Saint John of Nepomuk from the workshop of the sculptor Brokoff. Kovářovsko belongs to the ethnographic region of Kozácko (Táborsko-Milevsko). Regional traditions are maintained and presented, among other places, by Kovářovskétradice.cz: the focus is on folk songs, dances, customs, costumes, theatrical activities, and selected traditional crafts.

An Adventure Park and Routes for Different Days

The Zeměráj adventure park covers 9 hectares and includes an open-air museum with an early medieval village, a one-kilometre barefoot trail, a bird trail, and archaeological and paleontological sites. There is also a large labyrinth, a children’s play village, a water playground, an interactive games world, and an archery range. In total, Zeměráj offers more than 100 games, entertaining, educational, and adventurous tasks, as well as puzzles. These include the treasure hunt “Cesta za pokladem”, the orienteering game “Hlaholam”, and the search games “Kamene času” and “Klenoty přírody”.

From Kovářov, the adventure park can be reached on foot via a yellow-marked trail that is 2 km long. The surrounding area can also be explored by bicycle: the “Kde domov můj” cycle route passes through Kovářov, including along roads 1154 and 1156, and Zeměráj can be reached via a detour.

Folklore as a Travel Motive in Its Own Right

Since 1996, the Jihočeský Folklórní Festival has taken place every year in Kovářov around the turn of May and June. The programme features South Bohemian folklore ensembles, as well as guests from other ethnographic regions of the Czech Republic and from abroad. The visitor programme also includes a folk market, craft workshops, and tastings of Old Bohemian cuisine. An open day at the House of Regions and Children’s Folklore Traditions was held in the Baroque rectory; visitors could access exhibitions on children’s costumes, children’s customs and processions, blacksmithing, a video kiosk with a mobile application, a photo gallery, informational materials, and a children’s corner.

More places for planning your trip: Zvíkovské Podhradí, Vráž, Květov, Albrechtice Nad Vltavou, Mirovice, Horosedly, Minice, Lety.

For the overarching travel overview: Písek District.