Discover Ždírec: Nature, History and Trails

When travelling to Ždírec, different interests have different points of focus: a park with sculptures and educational activities, sacred buildings with their own historical features, and connections to nature and routes. To plan your trip, you can first consider whether you would like to focus your stay mainly on wildlife, architecture or outdoor activities.

Sculptures and educational activities at the Ždírecká ZOO

The Ždírecká ZOO in Ždírec–Myť is a publicly accessible park. It presents local wildlife through artistically designed wood and metal sculptures, complemented by educational and play features. This brings together viewing the sculptures and learning about animals, without limiting the park to just one of these ways of experiencing it.

Interactive educational activities include a dendrophone and activities for identifying animals. These give the visit a distinctive focus: the sculptures depict wildlife artistically, while the educational activities invite visitors to try things out and observe. The park is open to visitors free of charge every day throughout the year, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Check the opening hours again before your trip.

Gothic church and Neoclassical chapel

In Žďár, the Gothic Church of St. Wenceslas stands on a prominent headland above the right bank of the Úslava, next to a burial ground. It was built in the first half of the 14th century under the influence of the building workshop at Pomuk Monastery. The presbytery, or altar area, features a unique series of frescoes dating from around 1350, depicting scenes from the legend of St. Wenceslas. The church’s construction period and fresco subjects offer different historical points of interest.

The Neoclassical Chapel of the Virgin Mary of Klatovy in Smederov has a different layout: it consists of two parts, each with its own entrance. The first part contains a central image of the Virgin Mary of Klatovy, while the second contains a Nativity scene. The clear division distinguishes the two interiors, with the image and Nativity scene each assigned their own area.

Forests, stream landscape and protected nature

Chejlava is part of the Buková hora–Chýlava Nature Park. On a lydite bedrock, the forest has a primeval-forest-like character. Along the Přešínský potok, willows and alders shape the immediate surroundings. Further afield, the landscape initially features alder stands and forest; however, it consists predominantly of mown meadows. The landscape therefore combines primeval-forest-like woodland on lydite bedrock, willows and alders along the stream, and predominantly mown meadows in the surrounding area.

The Přešínský potok is home to a stable population of stone crayfish that reproduces regularly and successfully. The area is part of the Natura 2000 network and is designated a natural monument. Visitors interested in nature will find here not only the forest landscape of Chejlava but also a specific connection to a lasting animal population and its habitat.

Hiking route, cycling connection and getting there

A blue-marked hiking route passes through the municipality: from Nepomuk via Kámen, Myť, Ždírec, Žďár, Smederov, Blovice and Vlčtejn to Nebílovy. The long sequence of stages is useful if you are planning a hike that takes in several named places. Check in advance that the trail markings are up to date.

There are also two separate points to note about cycling. Long-distance cycle route No. 31 includes the Vlčice–Ždírec section. Separately, a project plans to continue construction of a cycle connection between Blovice and Ždírec. When planning, it is therefore important to distinguish the section of the long-distance cycle route mentioned from the construction project for the Blovice–Ždírec connection.

Ždírec has a railway station and a rail connection on the main Plzeň–České Budějovice line. The rail connection may be a factor when choosing a destination, alongside your interests in nature and culture. A recurring event is the Silvestrovský běh, which has been officially held every year in Ždírec since 1991 and attracts athletes from all over the Czech Republic. If you are planning a trip around the race, check the dates and details for the relevant year, as they may vary.

Discover more destinations: Letiny, Dvorec, Chlumy, Polanka, Dolce, Nová Ves U Plzně, Čižice, Prádlo.

For the main travel overview: Plzeň-Jih.