Rybitví and the History of the Ruchadlo

If you’re looking for a hotel in Rybitví, you can plan your trip around specific themes: the history of the ruchadlo, a monument, and designated walking and cycling routes. The town’s history leads to the Veverka cousins and a ploughing device; for practical planning, the visitor status of their birthplace and the listed public transport connections also matter. This lets you consider cultural interest, exercise, and travel separately when weighing up your destination.

The Ruchadlo: Device and History

In 1827, cousins František Veverka and Václav Veverka completed around three years of experiments with a new plough design in Rybitví. František was a farmer, and Václav was a blacksmith. Local residents called the design the “ruchadlo”. This links a place, two people with different occupations, and an approximate period of experimentation to a specific story of invention.

The ruchadlo was an agricultural ploughing device. It made it easier to regulate ploughing depth, turned the soil, and loosened it. The design is therefore defined not only by its name or the people involved: its function is also part of its history. Those interested in the history of technology will find a concrete link here between a historical invention and working in the fields.

Another historical event followed in 1832: Jan Kainz, an official in the Choltice estate, displayed the ruchadlo at an agricultural exhibition under the name “Kainz plough”, presenting it as his own invention. This was five years after the Veverka cousins had completed their experiments in Rybitví. The dates mark two separate events: the completion of the experiments and a later exhibition at which Kainz presented the device as his invention.

Monument and Birthplace

The monument to the first successful trial of the ruchadlo consists of a bronze plough on a stone pedestal. It stands near the former blacksmith’s workshop in Rybitví. Its form recalls the device itself, making the historical subject visible as a monument.

In August 2026, the birthplace of the Veverka cousins, “Rodný domek br. Veverkových”, was closed. At that time, a restoration project for the house and its surroundings was being developed, and a suitable option had been selected. If you’d like to include the birthplace in your plans, check current access before visiting.

Walking and Cycling Routes

A yellow-marked hiking route runs for 3 km to Rybitví and ends at an MHD stop. For cycling, the 52 km route “Along the Opatovice Canal to the Horses” is designated for road and trekking bikes. It lists the birthplace of the Veverka cousins in Rybitví as a point of interest. If this particular site matters to your cycling plans, take the stated closure status into account when planning your visit.

The route information answers different planning questions: for the hiking route, the length and endpoint are given; for the cycling route, the designated bike types and named destination of tourist interest are also specified. The lengths also differ considerably: the 3 km walk contrasts with a 52 km cycling route. This lets you plan your trip according to your preferred mode of transport and route length.

Getting There by Public Transport

DPMP line 3 connects the main railway station, Hlavní nádraží, with Rybitví and Lázně Bohdaneč. According to the timetable valid from 27 July 2026, line 33 runs from Hlavní nádraží via Globus to Rybitví. The routes listed differ mainly in that line 3 also connects to Lázně Bohdaneč, while line 33 runs via Globus. Check the timetable before travelling, as routes and schedules may change.

Discover more destinations: Semín, Uhersko, Sopřeč, Holotín, Mikulovice, Kostěnice, Neratov, Poběžovice U Holic

For the broader travel overview: Pardubice District.