Nová Bystřice: Church, Veteran Museum and Themed Trails

Nová Bystřice offers several different points of interest for a stay: a medieval church, an automobile museum, the narrow-gauge railway and themed trails through the region. Which of these you include can shape your trip. The distinctions below will help you incorporate culture, nature and routes into your plans.

Church of St. Peter and Paul: Medieval Architecture

The Church of St. Peter and Paul is the most prominent landmark in the urban conservation area of Nová Bystřice. It dates back to the Middle Ages and preserves valuable architectural features from that period. Architectural details include medieval perimeter masonry, the presbytery vault and a northern chapel. There are also portals in the lower section of the tower and leading to the sacristy, as well as wall paintings in the presbytery.

The church can be appreciated not only for its importance to the townscape, but also for its individual surviving architectural and artistic features. Visitors interested in historic architecture will find several distinct details in one building: masonry, a vault, a chapel, portals and wall paintings. The church is also the starting point of the Stezka vyznání, whose theme extends beyond the building itself to the history of the region.

Automobile Museum and Narrow-Gauge Railway

The Muzeum veteránů displays more than 70 classic American cars in themed halls. This gives your stay a clearly defined cultural focus. Each season, the museum prepares new exhibits, as well as new films and comedies for the cinema. If you plan to visit for a specific program, check the current offerings before your trip.

The Jindřichohradecké narrow-gauge railway can also be a focus of your plans: it is back in regular service, and all trains have their own bicycle car. The Nová Bystřice Tourist Information Centre provides information about bus and train connections, the narrow-gauge railway and its timetable. If you plan to take a trip, check the timetable before you travel. During the summer holidays, the operator also runs a bistro at Nová Bystřice railway station. As this service is seasonal, it is best to confirm in advance whether it will be available during your travel dates.

Choose Trails by Length and Theme

For a longer route, the Stezka Českou Kanadou long-distance hiking trail connects Nová Bystřice with Jindřichův Hradec, Slavonice and Dačice. It is about 110 kilometres long and divided into eight stages, each 11 to 18 kilometres. This gives you an overview of both the total distance and the length of each section. The 25-kilometre Textilní stezka is shorter: it starts beyond Nová Bystřice on the road towards Hradiště and returns to town at its seventh information board. It is suitable for cyclists, although some sections have unpaved surfaces.

Other trails focus on different themes. The nearly 50-kilometre Stezka vyznání begins at the church on the square in Nová Bystřice. Five interpretive panels cover important moments in the history of the Novobystřicko area, which are closely connected with changes in the Christian faith. All the panels are accessible by car via paved roads. The Stezka 20. století po Novobystřicku presents the historical development of the local region in the 20th century across two circular routes of 30 and 19 kilometres. It starts from the square in Nová Bystřice, where an overview panel is located.

Ponds and the Blanko Nature Reserve

The Graselova stezka Nová Bystřice starts at the information centre on the town square. It is marked with a yellow circle around a white letter “G”. Along the way, it passes the Mnišský and Proudný ponds before reaching Blanko Pond, where there is a nature reserve. The nature reserve lies within the administrative territory of the municipality of Nová Bystřice and includes part of the cadastral area of Mnich u Nové Bystřice. It protects a mesotrophic pond with well-developed shoreline vegetation, as well as a wet meadow.

The trails therefore offer a range of themes and route formats to choose from: regional history presented on interpretive panels, a look at the 20th century, a route suitable for cycling, or a longer long-distance trail divided into stages. Information about distance, route and theme will help you match your interests to the time available during your stay.

Discover more destinations: Lasenice, Višňová U Kardašovy Řečice, Jindrichuv Hradec, Horní Slatina, Popelín, Hamr, Vydří, Český Rudolec.

For the overview of the wider area: Jindřichův Hradec District.