Česká Ves: Culture, Nature Trail and Nature

Česká Ves offers a variety of reasons to explore the town and its surroundings: a nature trail with landscape and history stations, museums, historic buildings and opportunities for outdoor activities. You can choose which of these themes matter most for your trip based on their different focuses.

The nature trail through Česká Ves

The Naučná stezka kolem České Vsi is about eight kilometres long and has a total of 25 stations. It starts in the Krajník district at the Southern Lookout, passes through the centre of Česká Ves and continues to Čertovy kameny. This connects a route through the town with a destination in the rocky landscape, although neither the start nor the end is in the centre.

Along the way, features of the route include wartime trenches, a restored wooden chapel, forest springs, stone menhirs and climbing walls. The views extend from the Zlatohorská vrchovina across the Priessnitz Sanatorium to the Polish plains. The nature trail therefore brings together very different impressions: traces of the past, individual buildings and springs, and far-reaching views.

Čertovy kameny also have their own historical and landscape character. Surrounded by numerous legends, the rock massif has attracted tourists and nature lovers ever since the Gräfenberg spa was founded. An iron railing installed in 1892 was intended to make it easier to reach the highest rock tower—a historical detail that describes how the rock was approached at the time.

Museums, buildings and remembrance

The Válečné muzeum Česká Ves focuses on the residents of Česká Ves who fell in the First World War, prisoners of war from the Second World War, and the experiences of soldiers from more recent deployments. Other exhibition topics include Czechoslovakia’s pre-war fortifications, the mobilisation of the Czechoslovak Army in 1938, and aviation and flight-related events in the Jeseník area. The museum is housed in a former fire station: its foundations were laid around 1891/1892, and the building remained in continuous use by firefighters until January 2015.

The Church of St. Joseph was consecrated in 1928. Its unusual design, with two towers, and richly furnished interior make it a distinctive building. Visits can be arranged in advance through the municipal office. Make arrangements if you would like to see the church inside.

The First World War memorial provides another glimpse into local history: it was erected in 1934 to commemorate 113 men who were killed or went missing in the First World War. The marble pylon beside it commemorates the victims of the Second World War from 1939 to 1945. The two memorials stand side by side but refer to different wartime periods.

Budova Šoltézství, the oldest building in Česká Ves, is mentioned in records dating from before 1550. It is the birthplace of Sofie Priessnitzová, who was born there on 17 September 1804 into a wealthy farming family. Johan Schroth was also born in Česká Ves, on 11 February 1798. He later founded a naturopathic diet sanatorium in Dolní Lipová.

Activities and views

The Fitstezka above Česká Ves offers outdoor exercise equipment, including TRX, high and low bars, a slalom course, and stations for jumping, balancing, stretching and push-ups. It is located below the 809-metre summit of Černá hora. From there, you can see the Bělá Valley, as well as the Biskupská kupa lookout tower at 890 metres and the Zlatý chlum lookout tower at 891 metres. If you plan to use specific pieces of equipment, check in advance that they are currently available.

For cycling, the YEScyklo network covers more than 230 kilometres of marked circular routes. They run mainly along the Sokolský hřbet ridge above the Jeseník spas and through Česká Ves. If you are planning a particular route, it is advisable to check the current route details, as the availability of individual routes may change.

Another option for an active outing is the Adrenalin Park Jeseníky in Česká Ves. Facilities include a rope park for children and adults, an adrenaline tower, a long zip line, a free-fall swing, a bungee trampoline and a track for motorised quad bikes. If you are visiting for a specific attraction, check what is currently available before your visit.

Discover more destinations: Žulová, Vlčice, Kobylá Nad Vidnavkou, Horni Lipova, Hradec-Nová Ves, Bernartice U Javorníka, Mikulovice U Jeseníku, Vápenná.

For the wider travel overview: Okres Jeseník.