Nová Bystřice: Culture, Nature and Narrow-Gauge Railway

Culture and Special Discoveries in Nová Bystřice

Nová Bystřice combines medieval architecture, unusual museum experiences and a landscape with several themed trails. At the heart of the town's conservation area stands the Church of St Peter and Paul, its most prominent landmark. It dates from the Middle Ages and preserves valuable medieval architectural elements. The building also includes medieval surrounding walls, the vaulted presbytery, a northern chapel, portals in the lower section of the tower and leading to the sacristy, as well as wall paintings in the presbytery.

The Muzeum veteránů offers a completely different way to experience regional culture. In themed galleries, it displays more than 70 American classic automobiles. Each season, new exhibits, new films and comedies are prepared for the cinema. This makes it possible to combine a stay in Nová Bystřice with historical themes that extend beyond the town's own history.

Walking Trails with Different Themes

The Stezka Českou Kanadou long-distance trail is approximately 110 km long and divided into eight stages of 11 to 18 km each. It connects Nová Bystřice with Jindřichův Hradec, Slavonice and Dačice. Shorter is the 25 km Textilní stezka. It begins beyond Nová Bystřice on the road towards Hradiště and returns to Nová Bystřice at its seventh information board. The Textilní stezka is also suitable for cyclists.

The Stezka vyznání begins at the church on the square in Nová Bystřice. Five educational panels present important moments in the history of the Novobystřicko region, which are closely connected with changes in the Christian faith. The route is just under 50 km long; all the panels can be reached by car on paved roads. For orientation in the town, the Graselova stezka Nová Bystřice also begins at the information centre on the town square. Its trail marker is a yellow disc with a white letter “G”.

Protected Landscape and Practical Orientation

The Graselova stezka runs past the Mnišský and Proudný ponds to Blanko Pond, where a nature reserve is located. The Blanko Nature Reserve lies within the administrative area of the municipality of Nová Bystřice and covers part of the cadastral area of Mnich u Nové Bystřice. It protects a mesotrophic pond with well-developed shoreline vegetation, as well as a wet meadow.

The Jindřichohradecké narrow-gauge railway is operating regular services again, and all trains have their own bicycle carriage. Information about bus and train connections, the narrow-gauge railway and its timetable is available at the Nová Bystřice Tourist Information Centre. During the summer holidays, the operator runs a bistro at Nová Bystřice station. Another way to discover history while travelling is the Stezka 20. století: two circular routes of 30 km and 19 km present the historical development of the local region in the 20th century. Both begin at the square in Nová Bystřice, where an overview panel is located.

When looking for accommodation, you can therefore weigh up culture in the town centre, themed trails, nature experiences and trips on the narrow-gauge railway. Other destinations in this selection include Ponědrážka, Majdalena, Kamenný Malíkov, Jindrichuv Hradec, Kardašova Řečice, Domanín U Třeboně, Rosička U Deštné and Nova Vcelnice.

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