Vokov: Village History and Routes Through the Region

Vokov combines a long, linear settlement dating from the colonisation period with a protected chapel and routes that pass through the village. Its history can be read both in the shape of the village and in individual traces of the past. There are also routes that make Vokov part of longer journeys through the surrounding area. If you are looking for accommodation in Vokov, it helps to consider first: would you mainly like to get to know this historic village, or include a longer route in your travel plans?

The village layout and historical traces

Vokov is considered a long, linear valley village dating from the colonisation period of the 13th and 14th centuries. This description gives the village a distinctive historical perspective: its history is reflected not only in a single building, but also in the long, drawn-out settlement pattern in the valley. Vokov and the surrounding area also lie along the old Želivská stezka trade route. Since the early Middle Ages, it connected the Bohemian Basin with the Austrian Danube region. The history of this route offers a perspective beyond the village itself, revealing historical connections between the regions.

Oldřich Tluksa of Vokov is mentioned in records dating from 1376 to 1386. There may also have been a manor house there, but its location has never been identified. The reference is dated, whereas the possible site remains an uncertain clue with no precise location.

The chapel on the village square

The chapel on the village square is a small folk religious building with a square floor plan, a shingle-covered tented roof and a bell turret. It is dated to 1800 and has been protected as a historic monument since 1958. Its modest, clearly described design makes it a tangible point of reference for Vokov’s history. Those interested in folk religious architecture can see the floor plan, roof shape and bell turret together here.

The river and routes through Vokov

The Bělá crosses the eastern part of the municipal area from south to north. A flood zone, including an active zone, has been designated along this stretch; the Bělá then flows into the Želivka. The course of a waterway within the municipal area offers another way to understand Vokov. The settlement’s history and the river’s course provide different perspectives on the village: one historical, the other geographical.

The 31.1-kilometre Pelhřimovský prstýnek circular route runs from Pelhřimov through Starý Pelhřimov, Myslotín, Vokov, Nemojov, Putimov and Radňov, before returning to Pelhřimov. Vokov lies on a loop connecting several villages; the stated total distance is not a route solely through Vokov. The 92-kilometre Litohošť–Sosnový les riding trail, which also passes through Vokov, is on a different scale. Comparing the distances and route types helps put each route into perspective. Check local trail conditions before setting out.

Getting there and planning your trip

For the period from 2022 to 2026, regional bus route 281 was listed as running between Střítež, Božejov, Libkova Voda, Vokov and Pelhřimov. The information was current as of 15 June 2021. If you plan to travel by bus, check the current timetable before your trip; this dated planning information alone does not confirm that the service operates today.

Consider which of these perspectives matters most for your trip, and if you plan to travel by bus, include the current timetable in your planning.

Discover more destinations: Proseč Pod Křemešníkem, Kaliště U Humpolce, Zachotín, Vlásenice-Drbohlavy, Chystovice, Mladé Bříště, Hořice U Humpolce, Čelistná.

Back to the regional travel overview: Pelhřimov District.