Valašská Polanka – Landscape, Trails and Traditions

Valašská Polanka lies in the valley of the Senice River and combines a varied landscape with vibrant traditions. Those planning a trip with walks, cycling, regional culture and small historical discoveries will find a variety of opportunities here for planning their days.

Landscape between the Vizovice Highlands, the Javorníky Mountains and the Senice

The western part of the cadastral area lies at the foot of the Vizovice Highlands. The right bank of the Senice belongs to the Javorníky Mountains and is also part of the Beskydy Protected Landscape Area. Marked hiking trails lead to the ridges of the Vizovice Highlands and eastwards to the border ridge of the Javorníky Mountains.

The surroundings of Valašská Polanka are suitable for easy hikes, mountain bike tours and cross-country skiing in winter. A more demanding option is the route from Valašská Polanka to the Huzulen and back, which is recommended for hiking, cycling and mountain biking in challenging mountain terrain.

Hiking destinations and cycling tours

The traditional summer hiking day Pochod okolo Polanky takes place on 5 July and leads through Valašská Polanka and its surroundings. The route includes beautiful views and several refreshment stations. A walk of approximately 2 km to the swing at Sulačov can begin at the Church of Saint John the Baptist. From Sulačov, there are views of the Senice Valley towards Vsetín, as well as of the Javorníky Mountains and the Vizovice Highlands.

A cycling tour on the BEVLAVA cycle path begins in Valašská Polanka and follows the Senice River towards Prlov. The 7 km Vartovna educational trail includes seven stops. It presents points of interest and the history of Seninka, Valašská Polanka and other places along the route.

The Neratov pond, with a preserved wetland ecosystem, is located nearby. Rare and specially protected aquatic invertebrates and amphibians occur there. This natural-history site thus adds another theme to the trails and viewpoints.

Churches, monuments and local history

The Church of Saint John the Baptist was consecrated in 1778. In front of the church stands a stone cross from 1779 bearing the coat of arms of the Illésházy counts; it is registered as a cultural monument. Inside the church is a small bell from 1720, the so-called “umíráček”. It presumably once belonged to a bell tower shown on old maps of Polanka.

Above the railway station stands a wooden cross erected in 1948 and restored around the turn of the century by the children of the Pasekar couple Mikušek in their memory. In Valašská Polanka, a monument to the fallen of the First World War from 1934 and a monument to the fallen of the Second World War from 1947 also commemorate the history of the village.

Festivals, customs and regional specialties

The parish pilgrimage of Valašská Polanka is celebrated on the Sunday closest to 24 June. The Hody festival traditionally takes place every year on the third weekend in October and commemorates the consecration of the local church in 1778. The tradition of the “starovlašská dožatá” is also still alive in Valašská Polanka today.

The Valašská svatba is also part of the regional heritage. Residents of Valašská Polanka and Lužná presented this tradition at ethnographic exhibitions in Vsetín in 1892 and in Prague in 1895. For a break in the village, there is a local coffee roastery where visitors can stop for a coffee. Meat-specialty products are sold at the local fire station.

A road and a railway line connecting Moravia with Slovakia pass through Valašská Polanka. Further destinations for your research include Ratiboř U Vsetína, Velké Karlovice, Růžďka, Hošťálková, Valašské Příkazy, Ústí U Vsetína, Valasska Bystrice and Vigantice.

To the overarching travel overview: Vsetín District.