Kovářov: Heritage, Folklore and Trails

In Kovářov, tangible cultural monuments meet folklore traditions and trail offerings. The Church of All Saints, the Baroque rectory and the Kalvárie sculpture group shape the historic character of the town. The stations along the Naučná stezka Kovářovska nature trail draw on folk traditions; the annual folklore festival may influence when you choose to travel. In Kovářovsko, hills, forests and ponds shape the landscape.

Trails and landscape

The Naučná stezka Kovářovska nature trail comprises three routes with a total of 21 stations; together, the three routes are 50 kilometres long. The stations correspond to those dedicated to the folk traditions of Kovářovsko and invite you to explore the surrounding area. The scope is important for planning: the 50 kilometres describe the combined length of the routes, not a single route.

Kovářovsko is pleasantly hilly, with numerous elevations, forests and many large and small ponds. These contribute to a varied range of plant and animal life. The area around Kovářov also has its own geological features: notable rock formations and erratic boulders can be found there in a variety of shapes. The trail stations, landscape and rock formations are all among the features you can look out for as you explore the area.

Church and local history

The single-nave Church of All Saints stands in the centre of Kovářov, at the north-western corner of the village square. It is considered the oldest monument in the town and is an important feature of the urban landscape. It was already a parish church in 1220. The old Baroque rectory dates from 1739; its mansard roof is typical of buildings on the Orlík estate.

The Kalvárie sculpture group is another of the most important historic monuments in Kovářov. The town also has a statue of Saint John of Nepomuk from the workshop of sculptor Brokoff. Beyond the town itself, Kovářovsko has an ethnographic connection: the area belongs to Kozácko, also known as Táborsko-Milevsko. This classification refers to Kovářovsko.

Folklore and dates

The Jihočeský Folklórní Festival was founded in 1996 and takes place in Kovářov every year around the turn of May and June. The programme features South Bohemian folklore ensembles as well as guests from other ethnographic regions of Czechia and from abroad. The visitor programme includes a folk market, craft workshops and tastings of old Bohemian cuisine. Some accompanying activities may vary from one edition to the next, so check the specific dates and programme if you would like to plan your trip around the festival.

Games and an excursion destination

The geolocation game “Objevte Kovářovsko” takes you to 56 places of interest using an interactive mobile app. It includes information, photos, illustrations, maps and tasks. Once downloaded, the game can be played offline. You can start at a place of your choice, play the individual stages in any order, take a break and continue later. Check the app’s availability and compatibility with your device before travelling.

The Zeměráj adventure park is a nearby excursion destination outside the centre of Kovářov. Covering nine hectares, it includes an open-air museum with an early medieval village. Other attractions include a one-kilometre barefoot trail, a bird trail, archaeological and palaeontological sites, a large maze, a children’s play village, a water playground, an interactive games area and an archery range. The park also offers more than 100 games, along with entertaining, educational and adventurous tasks and puzzles. These include the treasure hunt “Cesta za pokladem”, the orienteering game “Hlaholam” and the search games “Kamene času” and “Klenoty přírody”.

Zeměráj can be reached from Kovářov via a two-kilometre footpath marked in yellow. Check the route and trail markings before setting out. This lets you plan a visit to the park as a separate excursion, while the church, rectory and sculpture group focus on local history.

Discover more destinations: Pisek, Kožlí, Vadkovice, Květov, Kostelec Nad Vltavou, Okrouhlá, Sepekov, Zhoř

For the main travel overview: Okres Písek.