Horní Kamenice: Local History and Landscape

If you are looking for a destination with historic village scenery and regional traditions for your stay, Horní Kamenice offers several different points of interest. The village extends across both slopes of the Srbický potok valley and lies on the edge of the extensive Vytůň Forest. Highlights include the Gothic ruins of Lacembok Castle, the Chapel of St. John of Nepomuk, the architecture of the houses and archaeological traces. There are also recurring events and a named educational hiking trail. When planning your trip, you can distinguish between permanent features of the village, a time-specific event and a route that runs through the cadastral area.

Landscape and Early History

A Bronze Age barrow cemetery lies beyond Horní Kamenice in a forest towards Mytě. Archaeological finds in the surrounding area also point to relatively continuous settlement from the Middle Bronze Age to the end of the Early Iron Age. The cemetery is a specific burial site; the finds relate to the wider settlement area. Together with the location on the slopes of the Srbický potok valley and beside Vytůň Forest, this offers a perspective that brings the landscape and early history together.

Castle Ruins and Historic Buildings

The Gothic ruins of Lacembok Castle lie within the cadastral area of Horní Kamenice. The fortifications and the basic structure of the castle are clearly preserved to this day; an information board stands on the upper plateau. The fortifications draw attention to the defensive part of the complex, while the preserved basic structure reveals how the castle was laid out. Lacembok can therefore be understood not only as a ruin, but also through specific architectural features.

Hornokamenická Fortress is another distinct historical landmark: it is connected with Panský dvůr and dates back to the 13th century. In the village itself, gabled roofs and vernacular-classical façades define the typical character, which most houses have retained. Houses No. 3 and No. 5 also preserve so-called gates. The architecture can thus be understood both through its recurring roof and façade designs and through specific named details.

The Chapel of St. John of Nepomuk was built in 1902 after the older chapel was destroyed by fire. It is part of the pilgrimage festivities “Slavnost kaple svatého Jana Nepomuckého,” which include a mass. The year the new chapel was built and the religious festivities provide two distinct points of reference for placing it in the village’s history.

Trails, Park and Events

The educational hiking trail “Naučná stezka Po stopách Jiráskovy Lucerny” runs through the cadastral area of Horní Kamenice. A different kind of outing is the cycling tour “Na kole na koláč”: it follows forest roads to Krchleby for the regional speciality Krchlebský koláč and takes place in early October to mark the end of the cycling season. The exact date may vary from year to year. If you are travelling specifically for this ride, check the date in advance.

Two events can also be identified by their timing or location. The Masopust parade in Horní Kamenice always takes place on the Saturday before Shrove Tuesday. For “Sjezd na čemkoliv,” the start is in Vejpich and the finish is in Horní Kamenice Park. The park lies at the foot of the hill towards Vejpich and includes a village-owned well. For planning your trip, the reference to Shrove Tuesday for Masopust and the stated start and finish points for “Sjezd na čemkoliv” are the specific landmarks.

Discover more destinations: Loučim, Bělá Nad Radbuzou, Zahorany, Kaničky, Karlova Hut, Pivon, Chodská Lhota, Nevolice.

For the broader travel overview: Domažlice District.