Nespeky on the Sázava: Building History, Routes and Canoe Trips

Nespeky lies on the Sázava. Key landmarks include a canoe route by the weir, a cycling path with varied surfaces and distinctive historic buildings. There is also Bistro Ledce, which operates seasonally. If you are looking for a hotel for a stay in Nespeky, you can choose the focus of your trip based on these highlights: water, local history or both.

The Sázava, Routes and Getting There

The 30 km canoe route from Čerčany to Pikovice passes the weir in Nespeky. Paddlers must get out of their boats at the weir, which is 1.5 km downstream from Městečko. River conditions and changes to the infrastructure can affect the conditions for carrying boats around the weir. Check the current situation before your trip.

Around 90% of the cycling path from Zbořený Kostelec to Nespeky runs along paved or asphalted routes; around 10% passes through easy, stony terrain. Surface conditions can change over time. Nespeky can be reached by bus route 337 on the Benešov–Prague, Budějovická route. Routes and timetables may change; check the connection for your travel date.

A stone bridge over a ravine above the road to Prague can be viewed from Potočiny Road or reached via a turnoff from the main road to Prague.

Churches, Mill and Other Buildings

The Church of St. Bartholomew stands by a remote farmstead in Ledce, by the river and within the cadastral area of Nespeky. The church and farmstead form a uniquely preserved example of a small settlement with a medieval church. The church dates from the second half of the 13th century and was remodelled in the Baroque style in 1736.

The Chapel of the Virgin Mary in Nespeky dates from around the mid-19th century. Above the door is a round medallion made of coloured ceramic depicting the Virgin Mary and the Infant Jesus; inside, there is a painting by V. Tőrstra. In Městečko, the stone part of the belfry was built in 1850; a cross on a brick base was added in 1858.

The Petrovic Cross was erected on 6 June 1883. It stands 150 m uphill in the woods, on the right-hand side of a path that branches off before the bus stop. The Nespeky Mill is documented as Havlovský mlýn since 1595, with two water wheels and a stamping mill. The mill building and the power station annex have been preserved in the historicist style of the second half of the 19th century. The hydroelectric power station was restored in 1997 with its original turbines. Milča Majerová’s summer house is influenced by Mediterranean architecture.

Bistro Ledce and Travel Planning

Set in meadows on the Sázava, Bistro Ledce serves high-quality coffee, homemade lemonades, beer, natural wines, international cuisine, homemade cakes and other desserts. The menu and seasonal opening schedule may change; check both before your visit.

The practical details to check depend on your plans: on the river, conditions at the weir matter; for the bus, check the current timetable; and the bistro’s seasonal opening schedule may change. This lets you choose the focus of your stay—a canoe trip, building history or both—before looking for a hotel in Nespeky.

Discover more destinations: Slapy-Nedvezi, Miřetice, Divišov, Krhanice, Zahorí U Milicína, Chlístov, Týnec Nad Sázavou, Zdislavice.

For the broader travel overview: Okres Benešov.