Stvolová – Svitava Valley, Cycling Routes and Local History

Stvolová between the Svitava floodplain and the hilly countryside

The cadastral area of Stvolová connects the Svitava floodplain with the hills of the Svitavská pahorkatina. The southeastern part consists of the Svitava floodplain and adjacent gentle slopes. The rest of the area belongs to the Svitavská pahorkatina. For travel planning, the river floodplain, gentle slopes, and hilly countryside thus offer different landscape impressions side by side. Visitors who would like to experience more than one type of landscape during their stay will find a transition here between open floodplain areas, rising slopes, and the wider hilly countryside.

Local history and historical traces

The first written mention of Stvolová dates from 1317. Stvolová was initially a fief of the bishopric. In 1389, Stvolová became part of the mírovský obvod. The surrounding area contains further traces: Skřib is mentioned in 1674 in connection with the Letovice estate. Vlkov is mentioned in 1295 among the properties purchased by Provost Jan of Vyšehrad from Litomyšl Monastery. For travelers interested in culture, the history of Stvolová is thus connected with the historical links of neighboring places.

Cycling routes and paths through the landscape

The international cycling bypass “Svitavská stezka” runs through the municipality of Stvolová. The regional cycling corridor “Brno-Blansko-Skalice nad Svitavou-Letovice (-Svitavy-Česká Třebová-Ústí nad Orlicí)” also passes through the municipality. Signposted cycling routes are available for tourists. Within the municipality of Stvolová and in the surrounding landscape, there is also a network of field roads and footpaths. This makes it possible to plan a long-distance connection, a regional corridor, a signposted route, and local paths as different components of a cycling tour or walk.

One specific option is long-distance cycling route No. 24 Svitava. It runs through the Svitava Valley without climbs; the surface is predominantly paved, and the route partly passes through the forest. The route choice here is determined by the lack of ascents, the predominantly paved surface, and the forest sections. This combination distinguishes the route from paths where field roads, footpaths, or a regional connection are the main features.

Geological features near Vlkov

Near Vlkov, several abandoned quarries with walls up to 30 m high expose the Bělohorská Formation of the Bohemian Cretaceous Basin. The geological site near Vlkov can be reached without restrictions and without an entry ban; by car, it is possible to get within 250 m. The high quarry walls draw attention to the rock layers and create a distinct contrast with the Svitava floodplain, the gentle slopes, and the forest sections of the cycling route. In this way, the geology complements the landscape experiences with a specific view of the region’s underlying geology.

A historical occasion in Vlkov

A pilgrimage mass was scheduled for 1:00 p.m. on July 5, 2025, at the Chapel of St. Cyril and St. Methodius in Vlkov u Letovic on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of its consecration and first mass. The occasion belongs to a clearly defined historical period and complements the older local associations of Stvolová, Skřib, and Vlkov with a more recent sacred site.

More destinations for travel planning

For further research into destinations in the Czech Republic, you can also consider Jedovnice, Horní Poříčí, Vlkov, Ludíkov, Kuničky, Sloup V Moravském Krasu, Adamov U Brna, and Olomučany can also be considered.

For the higher-level travel overview: Blansko District.