Petrovice: Educational Trail, Observation Tower and Building History

Petrovice can be explored through a variety of themes: trails with clearly specified routes, natural monuments and a history of architecture dating back to the Middle Ages. If you are planning a stay, these distinctions can help you choose the places and routes that suit your interests.

Educational Trails and Routes Around Petrovice

The Petrovicko educational trail starts and ends in Petrovice. At just under 27 kilometres, its length is an important consideration when planning your route; the trail also features 20 information boards. Part of the route is accessible to cyclists. The routes should therefore not all be viewed in the same way: a section of the Petrovicko educational trail is designated for cyclists, but the information does not describe the entire trail as a cycling route.

The Petrovická stezka is another named route. It leads from Petrovice over Mount Hodětín and on to the Kuníček observation tower. It also includes a stone Stations of the Cross linking Kuní, Kuníček and Rybníček. The Petrovická stezka therefore offers a different focus from the Petrovicko educational trail: here, the route to the observation tower and the Stations of the Cross are specific landmarks, while the educational trail is described by its length, information boards, and starting and ending point in Petrovice.

Observation Tower and Natural Monuments

At the Kuníček observation tower, the overall height and the height of the platform are different: the structure is 60.02 metres high, and the upper observation platform is 36.6 metres above the ground. The tower opened to the public on 28 June 2003. If you include the tower in your plans, check current visitor access before your visit.

The locations of two natural monuments are also described. The Vrškámen natural monument lies approximately 500 metres east-southeast of the centre of Petrovice. The approximate distance and compass direction give a reference point in relation to the town centre, but do not indicate an exact route.

Husova kazatelna is a protected natural monument in the woods near Petrovice and the largest rocking stone in the Czech Republic. It can be reached via a walkable tourist trail; from the road, the access route continues for more than 250 metres. Take this section into account when planning your visit. As local conditions may change, it is advisable to check them before your visit.

Church and Castle: Historic Traces

The Church of Saints Peter and Paul complex is located at the northeastern corner of Petrovice’s square. It comprises the parish church, a stone cemetery wall and the Chapel of Saint John of Nepomuk. The chapel is built onto the outside of the western section of the wall. The original medieval church was remodelled in the Baroque style in the 18th century under Jesuit influence. Thus, the church’s medieval origins and its later Baroque transformation are both evident within the complex.

Another historical thread leads to the Petrovice castle grounds, which are designated a cultural monument. The main building, also known as “Panský dům,” stands on the site of an earlier medieval fortress. Its origins date to the 14th century, and it was first mentioned in writing in 1489. When making your choice, you can distinguish between the church, the castle grounds and the named routes, rather than grouping these different historical and landscape themes together as a single attraction.

Whether you are mainly interested in longer trails, natural monuments or architectural history, Petrovice brings these themes together through specific names and distinct geographical contexts. The Petrovicko educational trail, the Petrovická stezka, the Kuníček observation tower and the historic buildings each offer their own starting points for planning your stay.

Discover more destinations: Sedlice, Chotilsko, Čím, Buková U Příbramě, Doubravice, Milín, Malá Hrastice, Rozmital - Skuhrov

For the broader travel overview: Okres Příbram.