Discover Držková: Rocks, Trails and Living Traditions

Držková stands for protected landscapes, marked trails and regional culture. Between rock formations, springs and traditional buildings, different kinds of holidays take shape: you can learn about the history of the village, hike to viewpoints or explore the Hostýnské vrchy on marked routes.

Rocks, forests and protected landscapes

The Přední Skaly rise above Držková. From their peaks, you can see the village and its valley. The rock formations, consisting of sandstone and conglomerate, were designated a natural monument in 1987. They are used by both experienced and less advanced climbers. At Přední Skaly, therefore, the focus is not only on the view but also on the distinctive geological character of this part of the landscape.

The entire cadastral area of Držková belongs to the Hostýnské vrchy Nature Park. Its northern part also lies within the Hostýnské vrchy Bird Area. About 1 kilometre north of Držková lies the Holíkova rezervace in the village’s cadastral area. A mixed forest dominated by beech trees shapes the landscape there; there are also sandstone outcrops and the Zadní skály rock formations.

Smaller landscape attractions are also part of the village’s character. Držková has thirteen well-maintained springs distributed throughout the cadastral area. Frdlantka is a spring in a wooden trough near the old Slovákova dřevěnice in Košařiska. At U Třech kamenů, three sandstone boundary stones still stand today. U Třech kamenů is a well-known hiking-trail junction in the Hostýnské vrchy at an elevation of 735 metres above sea level. From Vančica, the view extends to Troják and the Kotáry.

Hiking and cycling with different starting points

The Držkovské chodníčky educational trail is located in Držková in the Hostýnské vrchy. Its longest route is 21.6 kilometres long. The educational trail can be accessed at any point; information boards help with orientation. This allows flexible planning if you do not always want to start along the same stretch.

Other marked trails lead from the village in various directions. The red-marked hiking trail through Držková continues towards Tesák and Rajnochovice. A blue-marked hiking trail begins in Držková and leads towards Kopná and Baťková. From U Třech kamenů, marked hiking trails lead to Tesák, Troják and Hostýn. For cyclists, cycle route 5038 runs from Držková through easier terrain to Rusava and onwards to Hostýn. Cycle route 6124 leads through the Májová district towards Vsetín, while cycle route 6123 connects Držková with Hošťálková.

Museum, crafts and local tradition

In the centre of Držková, the Muzeum dřevěného porculánu houses around 450 exhibits. They document former life in Držková and Valašsko. The museum also presents evidence of the former domestic production of wooden devices and utensils. It is open year-round, but visits must be arranged in advance by telephone or email. If you value a cultural stay when looking for a hotel or other accommodation, this fixed appointment is an important part of your planning.

The Chapel of Saint Wenceslas in the centre is also part of the village’s history. It was completed and consecrated on 31 August 1930. Čihařova chalupa is the only listed building in Držková. The building was dismantled in Jasenná in 1981 and rebuilt in Ráztoky in Držková. In this way, Držková brings together religious history, traditional architecture and regional everyday history.

A particularly distinctive tradition is Končiny – vodění medvěda. The old tradition of the Končiny masked processions with bear-leading was revived in Držková by firefighters in the 1990s. The date is not fixed but is calculated from the date of Easter. The procession consists of ten to twenty masked figures and passes through Držková’s scattered farmsteads and cleared areas.

For further orientation around Držková, you can also find Kašava, Zádverice, Vizovice, Hrobice, Žlutava, Rokytnice, Spytihněv and Lutonina.

For the higher-level travel overview: Zlín District.