Horní Bělá: Trails, Cultural Heritage and Stone Sites

Horní Bělá brings together a range of themes to help you plan your trip: an educational and experience trail, archaeological traces, chapels, stone structures and Černý rybník. If you are looking for a hotel for your stay, you can base your choice on whether you want to focus on the trail, historic sites or the installations.

Stezka Hornobělskem: Length and Stops

The Stezka Hornobělskem educational and experience trail is about 15.5 km long. It can be traveled by bicycle or scooter and has 13 stops with information boards and interactive elements. This gives you both an approximate idea of the route’s length and an impression of the topics covered along the trail. Bicycles and scooters are specifically mentioned as ways to travel the route.

Hrad Vrtba and Chapels

The Vrtba castle site in Horní Bělá is classified as a significant archaeological site. Hrad Vrtba was one of the noble castles built around the turn of the 14th century. Remains of the perimeter fortifications and a pond system with a mill have been preserved at Hrad Vrtba. Here, the castle’s historical context meets the surviving features of the landscape.

The chapels also offer distinct points of interest. The Chapel of St. John of Nepomuk (Kaple Sv. Jana Nepomuckého) is designated a cultural monument. The Chapel of the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary (Kaplička Zvěstování Panny Marie) was built in 1736 in the Baroque style and is a boundary chapel between Horní Bělá and Dolní Bělá. When visiting this chapel, you can take into account both its date and style of construction and its location between the two municipalities.

Stone Structures and Their Interpretations

The Megalitický kamenný kruh Horní Bělá is located on a hill above Horní Bělá and is enclosed by 21 large menhirs. A different form is found at the installation at Výhledové místo u sv. Martina: it comprises a large central stone with three cosmograms carved by Jan Tajboš. According to geomancers, the arrangement is dedicated to the plant world. The Hornobělské kamenné spirály are rows of stone geopuncture created by geomancers.

Černý rybník and Its Recreational Use

Černý rybník, also known as Porajt, is fed by an inflow from Hatí, waterlogged meadows and forest wetlands. Its use for recreation probably dates back more than 100 years. Along with the history and stone structures, the waterside landscape and the pond’s history of use are additional themes to consider when planning your trip.

Walking Event and Annual Competition

Hornobělská 30 is a traditional walking event held regularly on the third Saturday in February. It offers 10, 20 and 30 km routes through the countryside around Horní Bělá. The routes can be distinguished by their stated distances. If you are traveling for the event, check the dates for the relevant edition in advance.

The Memoriál Františka Hebedy is a separate event: an annual forest and tracking trial for small-breed dogs. The first edition took place in October 1984, and the event has continued without interruption. If you are planning a visit, check the current edition before your trip.

Discover more destinations: Zruč-Senec, Myslinka, Dražeň, Rochlov, Vysoká Libyně, Zbůch, Blažim, Kbelany.

For the broader travel overview: Okres Plzeň-Sever.