Vrátkov: Trails, the Šembera Valley and history

For travelers interested in trails, landscapes and local history, Vrátkov offers several specific points of interest. The routes connect the village with nearby destinations, while the Šembera Valley and the Ekocentrum add further connections to the landscape. A cross and a small stone bell tower also tell the story of the village’s past. Which of these aspects you focus on during your stay depends on whether you mainly want to explore the area or learn about its local historical landmarks.

Cycling and hiking trails around Vrátkov

A tourist route and a cycle route run from Tismice through Vrátkov to the Šembera and onward to Tuchoraz. Cycle route 8206 (Babice–Doubek–Zahrady) also runs along the edge of Vrátkov. A green-marked hiking trail connects Mrzky, Tismice, Vrátkov and Tuchoraz. The descriptions offer different points of reference: one route passes through the village, a cycle route runs along its edge, and a hiking trail connects several villages. When planning your time in the area, you can start by deciding whether you want to focus on a cycling connection or the green-marked hiking trail. The number 8206 is also given for the cycle route along the edge of the village.

The Šembera Valley and the area around the Ekocentrum

Recreational and tourist use of the area is mainly associated with the Šembera Valley. The Podviniční pond is located there. Ekocentrum Vrátkov is surrounded by a species-rich forest and the floodplain of the Šembera stream. When planning your trip, you can therefore distinguish between two landscape features: the pond in the Šembera Valley and the forest and floodplain surroundings of the Ekocentrum. These descriptions refer to each named place and its surroundings; they do not indicate an additional connection between the individual routes and the pond.

Getting to the Ekocentrum

Ekocentrum Vrátkov can be reached by car, bicycle and on foot. Take PID line 491 and get off at the Doubravčice, rozcestí Vrátkov stop; from there, an approximately 800-meter forest path leads to the destination. Alternatively, line 435 runs between Český Brod and Říčany. From Vrátkov, a signposted forest path approximately 3 kilometers long leads to the Ekocentrum. When planning your trip by public transport, it is useful to distinguish between the two descriptions: one gives a bus stop and the walk from there, while the other gives the route served by line 435 and the forest path from Vrátkov. The stated distances refer to the respective routes to the Ekocentrum.

Historic landmarks in the village

The small stone bell tower in Vrátkov bears an inscription stating that it was erected in 1820 at the expense of the respected community of Wratkow. Another historical landmark is the Vrátkov cross. It was erected in 1874 at the expense of the couple Václav and Kateřina Miškovský of Vrátkov. Its location can be identified more precisely: the cross stands north of the village on the road to Český Brod. The bell tower and the cross highlight different aspects of the past: the inscription on the former names the year 1820 and the community, while the history of the latter names the couple who funded its construction.

Past events at the Ekocentrum

Events at the Ekocentrum have also explored nature-related topics. On August 31, 2024, the public educational event “International Bat Night” was held there for the third time. The program included information about bats, a presentation of live injured bats, and an evening outing with detectors to a nearby meadow. On September 21, 2025, the Ekocentrum held “Mushroom Day” as a guided forest walk with mycologist Michal Plundra. Edible, inedible and poisonous mushrooms were presented. Both dates are in the past; if you want to attend a specific event, check the dates announced for it.

When looking for a hotel in Vrátkov, these topics can help you shape your travel plans: the trails offer options for cycling and hiking, while the cross, the bell tower and the surroundings of the Ekocentrum provide further points of interest for your stay. Discover more destinations: Dolní Chvatliny, Zásmuky, Pašinka, Krakovany, Polní Chrčice, Kořenice, Jestřabí Lhota, Mrzky.

For the overview of the wider area: Kolín District.