Kunžak – History, Landscapes and Trails in Česká Kanada

Kunžak combines a vivid local history with distinctive landscape features and trails through the surrounding area. During a stay, you can choose between culture in the town, water at Komorník and hikes towards Vysoký kámen. The town’s origins also reflect its location: Kunžak was established at a crossroads of trade routes.

Church, Monument and Older Traces of the Town

A good starting point for exploring the town’s history is the Church of St. Bartholomew, which was first mentioned in 1370. Following reconstruction after the fires of 1742 and 1808, it acquired its present appearance. Particularly striking is the 24.8-metre-high, five-storey prismatic tower. It was added in 1556 and is topped by a Renaissance hood. Behind the church stands the rectory, built in the Neoclassical style in 1796.

In front of the church tower, a monument erected in 1933 commemorates the victims of the First World War. The legionary statue was created by the sculptor Karla Vobišová-Žáková (1887–1961), who was born in Kunžak. The religious and local landscape of small monuments also includes five protected wayside shrines: Two stand in the park near the church, while three remain at their original locations. House No. 63 is a rare surviving example of an older type of regional vernacular dwelling. Velké Podolí is considered the oldest part of Kunžak.

Other notable traces in the town include the originally largest stone fountain below the school, dating from 1815, and the Javorka spring on Bystřická Street. It lies at an elevation of 634 metres. A walk through Kunžak can thus connect several different historical and local points of interest without reducing the town to a single building.

Water, Heights and Protected Nature

At 56 hectares in area and three kilometres long, the Komorník pond is a significantly larger landscape feature. It was created in 1575 by Zachariáš of Hradec. In Česká Kanada, Komorník is one of the bodies of water that are popular for swimming in summer. It therefore offers a different pace for a day than the cultural and historical sights in Kunžak.

The highest point in the area around Kunžak is Vysoký kámen, at 738 metres. About one kilometre west of Kunžak there is also a protected natural monument covering 0.11 hectares. It is home to a special occurrence of common juniper, whose gene pool is protected. The Česká Kanada area is bounded by Kunžak, Nová Bystřice and Slavonice and was declared a nature reserve in 1994.

Hiking on the Czech Canada Trail

The Czech Canada Trail reaches Kunžak about three kilometres from Krvavý Pond via a quiet road. In the Kunžak section, the route follows red-marked hiking trails through a ravine and the Kunžacký Forest towards Vysoký kámen. Despite the effects of the bark beetle infestation, the landscape is considered attractive.

Another point of interest in the surrounding area is the former balancing rock Bývalý viklan Trkal. It lies about one kilometre from the village of Suchdol u Kunžaku and can be reached via a marked blue hiking trail. The historic town centre, the waterscape around Komorník and the trails to Vysoký kámen thus complement one another, offering various ways to plan a day.

More Places to Search

For further orientation, Hrachoviste, Hrutkov, Dešná U Dačic, Nová Bystrice, Újezdec U Kardašovy Řečice, Jilem, Kostelní Vydří and Kamenný Malíkov are also available as options.

For the higher-level travel overview: Jindřichův Hradec District.