Velké Petrovice: History and Rock Landscape

Velké Petrovice offers several ways to choose it as a destination: historical connections in the Metuje Valley, rock formations and traces of a castle at Vlčinec, and routes for cycling and hiking. If you are looking for hotels, distinguishing between these options can help you first decide what to focus on during your trip.

Local history and the battle in the Metuje Valley

Petrovice was probably founded by the Lords of Dubá at the end of the 13th century. Its history therefore reaches back to a time before the conflict recorded in 1420: a battle between Catholic Silesians and Hussites took place in the Metuje Valley near Petrovice. According to reports, 250 Hussites fell in the battle. A probable founding and an event involving named parties and a specific year thus stand alongside one another as distinct historical points of reference.

Vlčinec: rocks, river and fossils

Near Petrovice, Vlčinec rises as a high, narrow rocky promontory above a meander in the Metuje. Its geological features include Cretaceous rock outcrops and marlstone cliffs 5 to 8 metres high. The marlstone contains fossil remains of animals from the Cretaceous Sea. Vlčinec therefore brings together several distinct landscape features: the shape of the rocky promontory, the cliffs and evidence of the ancient sea. For travellers interested in geology as well as local history, this place offers a distinct thematic focus.

Medieval traces on the rocky promontory

Traces of the medieval castle of Vlčinec lie at the southern end of the rocky promontory. The ring ditches and ramparts of the former Vlčinec watch castle are still visible. The rock formation and the remains of the fortifications thus relate to different aspects of the same historical and landscape theme: the rocky promontory describes the terrain, while the ditches and ramparts recall the former fortifications. Together with the battle of 1420, these provide several specific points of reference for choosing a destination with a historical focus, though they do not all relate to the same period or place.

Cycling and hiking

On a cycling trip in the Kladské Pomezí, you can enjoy beautiful views from the road above Velké Petrovice. This viewpoint is tied to a specific feature of the terrain: the road above the village. As route conditions may change, check them before setting out.

A hiking route from Teplice nad Metují via Skály, Čáp and Stárkov to Velké Petrovice leads to the Velké Petrovice bus stop and then to the Police nad Metují railway station. This sequence of stops gives you a specific reference point if you would like to include bus and rail stations in your hiking plans. Please check current timetables for your onward journey.

A railway tunnel beneath the rock massif

A railway tunnel just under 300 metres long runs beneath the rock massif on which Petrovice lies. It adds a technical feature beneath the massif to the area’s other points of interest. When choosing Velké Petrovice as a destination, you can weigh up different interests: local history, geological features, visible traces of fortifications, or a route linked to bus and rail travel.

Discover more destinations: Slatina Nad Úpou, Slavětín Nad Metují, Vršovka, Vysoká Srbská, Lhota Pod Hořičkami, Běluň, Pekov, Vernerovice.

For the broader travel overview: Okres Náchod.