Ludkovice – Landscape, Culture and Cycling

Ludkovice combines a distinctive landscape, regional cultural traces and a challenging cycling route to create a versatile destination. If you would like to combine experiences in nature with historical discoveries, you will find a variety of points of interest here: the Čertův kámen natural monument, the Ludkovice water reservoir, the Boží muka near Obora and the “Severní toulky Luhačovským Zálesím” MTB route each offer their own focus. This makes it possible to shape your stay according to your preferred pace, balancing landscape, activity and culture.

Water and Rocky Landscapes around Ludkovice

The Ludkovice water reservoir lies above Ludkovice and is one of the smallest reservoirs in the entire Morava River basin. Its catchment area is largely forested and has no concentrated development. The Ludkovická přehrada is located in the cadastral area of Ludkovice. It supplies drinking water to the surrounding area and provides flood protection for communities along the Ludkovický potok. The combination of a forested catchment area, drinking-water supply and flood protection gives the reservoir a distinctive landscape and water-management character.

The dam itself also presents a precise landscape detail: it is 181 m long and rises more than 15 m above the valley floor. Below the Ludkovická přehrada, the sports and cultural complex is used during the summer months. The dimensions of the dam make both its extent along the valley floor and its height above the terrain clear.

Another distinctive natural feature is the Čertův kámen natural monument, which extends across the cadastral areas of Ludkovice and Provodov na Moravě. The 16 m-long rock formation lies on the northeastern slope of Rýsov. Particularly notable are the tafoni-type rock cavities, which reach up to 1.3 m in height. The technical term refers to cavities formed in rock through weathering and helps explain the special shape of this natural monument. At Čertův kámen, the tafoni add an independent feature to the formation’s dimensions, giving the rock a distinctly structured surface.

Historical Traces and Living Culture

The earliest written mention of Ludkovice dates from 1412. A much more recent but equally specific trace of time is the consecration of a chapel on 28 October 1995. The cultural character of the area also includes the Boží muka near Obora, dating from 1719. It stands at a crossroads of four roads and four cadastral areas and is of great artistic as well as historical value.

Religious traditions remain visible in Ludkovice: services are held regularly every second Wednesday, and midnight masses are celebrated every year at Christmas. For visitors, this complements the natural and cycling destinations by making not only older architectural and local history but also contemporary traditions visible. The historical traces are thus joined by regular religious events in local life.

A Cycling Route with a Clear Route Profile

For active days, the “Severní toulky Luhačovským Zálesím” route is a highlight in its own right. The MTB route is 48 km long and includes 1,200 m of elevation gain. On its return to Luhačovice, it passes through Ludkovice.

Those considering Ludkovice as a starting point for planning their trip can combine a range of interests: water and forest, an unusual rock formation, historical monuments, religious culture and a documented MTB route. Other destinations in the same overarching selection are Ublo, Trnava U Zlína, Podhradí U Luhačovic, Slušovice, Hostišová, Vlachova Lhota, Šanov and Hrobice.

For the overarching travel overview: Zlín District.