Soutice between river landscape and local history

Consider which focus you want to shape your trip: Would you rather explore water and trails, or learn about historical landmarks? Both themes offer different perspectives on the town and give you a basis for planning your stay around your own interests.

River Landscape, Trails, and Water

The confluence of the Želivka and Sázava rivers is located in Soutice and provides a tangible point of reference in the landscape. The traditional Silvestrovský pochod led there on December 31, 2025. The confluence is a permanent feature of the landscape; the march represents a specific event with a clear historical date. Another way to explore the area is the Umrlčí cesta, restored in 2017. It has four resting places with seating: Kukátko, Okno do duše a krajiny, Zvonička, and Svatá trojice. At the start of the trail, near the D1 access road, there are wooden facilities and an information board; they are intended for resting and refreshments.

Muzeum Soutice also explores the theme of water, but from a different perspective. The “Voda Želivka” exhibition shows the journey of drinking water from a reservoir to Prague. Alongside the confluence, which is a distinctive feature of Soutice’s landscape, it offers a look at the journey of drinking water to the capital. These are two different connections to water: one concerns the local river landscape, the other drinking water on its way from a reservoir to Prague.

Local History and Culture

The Church of St. James the Greater in Soutice is first mentioned in 1363. The year refers to its first mention, not automatically to its construction date, so it should be understood as a historical point of reference. The Soutice castle complex is listed as a cultural monument. The two details offer different ways into the area’s history: for the church, the focus is on an early mention; for the castle, on the complex’s protected status.

Muzeum Soutice is housed in a reconstructed 18th-century granary. The building has been protected as a cultural monument since July 29, 2020. The museum presents local history through historical photographs, furnishings from the former post office, and the municipal chronicle. Images, objects, and written local history come together here. A description of the exhibition about the castle available in 2026 names the castle owners and Ema Destinnová. Since exhibition content can change, check what is currently on display before your visit.

Another exhibit is a fired brick bearing the coat of arms of the Zahn family, from Soutice’s former brickyard. Check in advance whether this brick is currently on display during your visit. The writer JUDr. Vojtěch Zamarovský is buried in the Soutice cemetery. This connection broadens the historical perspective to include literary history: here, the focus is on a person rather than a building or an exhibit.

Discover more destinations: Drahňovice, Kondrac, Slověnice, Slapy-Nedvezi, Chotýšany, Kozmice, Hradiště, Čakov.

For the broader travel overview: Okres Benešov.