Discover Heroltice: Karst, Nature and Village History

Natural landscape between the Svratka and the Karst

Heroltice lies above the Svratka Valley south of Tišnov. The Lažánecko-Heroltický Karst extends between the village and the valley of the Bílý potok. A distinctive landscape feature can be seen at the Pejškovský potok: it resurfaces at Na bílé near Heroltice. At the same time, most of the karst areas in this region are practically inaccessible – the landscape is therefore shaped not only by its formations but also by its natural boundaries.

Ten significant landscape elements (VKP) are registered in the cadastral area of Heroltice. They are particularly important for protecting biodiversity, including protected and endangered plant and animal species. The local biocentre on the Heroltický potok includes ponds, wetlands and three fishponds. It was established in 1999; various amphibian species and the duck mussel Škeble rybničná are found there. Birds that can be observed include mallards, grey herons, reed warblers and kingfishers.

The local flora and fauna also make the village noteworthy for nature enthusiasts. Protected plants in the cadastral area include Brambořík nachový, Hořeček brvitý and Okrotice bílá, an orchid. Rare animal species in Heroltice include fire salamanders, smooth snakes, praying mantises, kingfishers and red-backed shrikes. In the vicinity there is also the stone-built Studánka U Sovy spring, with an owl statue in a niche; it was built in 2008. The Na Bílém spring supplies Tišnov and Heroltice with water and emerges from the rock without freezing.

Village History and Small Cultural Sites

The first mentions of Heroltice date back to 1316. At that time, the knight Herult (Herolt) settled on Horka Hill, where a fortress stood. The village’s history also includes the Chapel of Saint John of Nepomuk, the village’s patron saint. It was built in 1810. A statue of the same saint stands on the village green; the municipality had it erected in 1907 from the legacy of Tomáš Trtílek, who came from Heroltice. To the right of the chapel entrance, a white stone memorial plaque is set into a niche.

Nearby, at Šárka, lies Ostrov, the former site of the Rudomlýn Mill, which served there from 1536 to crush ore and was known as a Puchverk or Stoupa. Near Pravková lies the almost 20-hectare Slunná primeval forest, consisting mainly of beech woodland. The combination of karst, bodies of water and forest offers a range of nature-related themes for planning excursions.

Excursions and Seasonal Village Traditions

At Čertova hráz, you can see the remains of a 32-metre-long stone dam in the valley of the Pejškovský potok. Further along the valley there is a rest and refreshment area for pedestrians and cyclists. A bench at the edge of Obceny Forest offers views towards Veverská Bítýška and Veveří Castle above it. If you would like to combine nature, history and local traditions, Heroltice also hosts a carnival every year, a festival welcoming spring, a village fair beneath the maypole, a children’s summer cinema, a kite festival and a lantern procession.

For further comparisons with other villages, you can also find Ricany, Hajany, Popůvky, Újezd U Tišnova, Unín, Omice, Podolí and Hlína.

For the higher-level travel overview: Brno-Country District.