Zirec: Culture, Botany and Cycling History

Zirec offers specific points of interest for those interested in culture, plants and cycling. The Church of St. Anne, the park at Areál sv. Josefa, the herb garden and the Cyklomuzeum each have a different focus. If you are looking for a hotel, deciding which of these themes you want to shape your stay can help with planning.

Church of St. Anne: Organ and Visits

The Church of St. Anne houses an organ made in 1829 by Johann Antonín Barth from Dolní Olešnice. It is the last surviving organ by this maker that is suitable for concert performance. For music enthusiasts, a precisely dated instrument and its special place in Barth’s work come together here. The focus is therefore not only on the church as a place to visit, but also on a specific work with a known maker and place of origin.

Visits are possible with an audio guide or as part of a guided tour. As visiting arrangements may change, check them before your trip. This lets you factor the type of visit into your plans before setting the day.

Park and Via botanica

The park at Areál sv. Josefa is open to everyone all year round. There you can see coniferous and deciduous trees from Asia as well as North and South America. There are two clear ways to explore the park: by tree type or by region of origin. You can arrange the collection by coniferous and deciduous trees, or compare them by their origins in Asia and the two American continents.

Via botanica has a different focus: it starts in the Bylinkárium at Areál sv. Josefa and connects eleven botanically exceptional places. It therefore goes beyond the trees in a single park to link several places with a botanical focus. Its starting point and the number of destinations give a tangible sense of its scope if you choose botanical attractions as the focus of your trip. While the park is defined by its trees, Via botanica puts the connection between the eleven places front and centre.

Herb Garden and Plant Sales

Medicinal plants, perennials, and ornamental and fruit plants are offered for sale in the herb garden at Areál Žireč. Unlike the botanical features of the park and Via botanica, this also offers the opportunity to buy plants. For guests with a particular interest in herbs or garden plants, it provides a practical way to engage with the plant selection.

Cycling History and Cycling Route

The Cyklomuzeum in Žireč is the largest cycling museum in the Czech Republic and documents the development of cycling from its beginnings to the present day. This gives it a different timescale from the organ in the Church of St. Anne: the organ’s year of creation, 1829, and its maker are in the foreground, while the museum covers the development of an entire subject area. If you are choosing between a single historic instrument and a broader history of cycling, these two cultural attractions differ in both subject and historical scope.

A usable cycle path leads from Kuks to Žireč. For planning your trip by bicycle, this provides a specific connection between your starting point and destination. Check the local status before setting off, as cycling infrastructure may change.

Discover more destinations: Dolni Kalna, Malé Svatoňovice, Vlcice U Trutnova, Temny Dul, Velehrádek, Mladé Buky, Třebihošť, Bernartice U Trutnova

For the broader travel overview: Okres Trutnov.