Discover Slopné: Landscape, Nature Trail and Cultural Heritage

Landscape and location

Slopné lies in the valley of the Horní Olšava stream and is characterized by a hilly landscape that is largely wooded. Woodlands, fields and meadows form a mosaic; naturally winding paths and numerous viewpoints are also part of the landscape. The regional protected areas cover different parts of the municipality: the southern part of Slopné is in the Bílé Karpaty Protected Landscape Area, while the northern part of the cadastral area lies in Vizovické vrchy Nature Park. For getting your bearings in the area, this distinction is more useful than imagining a single, uniform landscape throughout.

A specific point of reference for planning is the Josef Váňa Nature Trail. It connects Slopné and Vizovice, is five kilometres long and runs from Slopné along a yellow-marked route via Klokočí to Vizovice. The starting point in Slopné can be reached by car or bus. If you travel by bus, it is best to check the service for your travel day, as frequency may vary.

When considering the distance to Vizovice, treat the nature trail and the additional stretch separately: after the five kilometres of the trail, it is another 3.5 kilometres to the centre of Vizovice. This additional distance is therefore not included in the stated length of the nature trail. This helps you interpret the two figures correctly when planning your trip, without combining them into a single distance.

Activities in different seasons

In winter, Slopné’s ski lift offers another activity. The ski slope is about 400 metres long and has a vertical drop of 90 metres. Artificial lighting also makes evening skiing possible. However, use depends on snow cover and local conditions, so check the current situation before planning a trip. The figures for length and vertical drop help give you an idea of the slope’s dimensions, but say nothing about conditions on any particular day.

This means there are options to suit different interests during a stay: a marked nature trail route and a seasonal winter sports offering. Which time of year is better for your trip depends on whether you mainly want to focus on the route between Slopné and Vizovice or on skiing when conditions are suitable.

Church, pilgrimages and local traditions

The Church of St. Roch in Slopné was consecrated on 14 July 1996 by Jan Graubner, Archbishop of Olomouc. It is a subsidiary church of the parish of Újezd. The small pilgrimage held every year on the second Sunday in July is linked to the anniversary of the consecration of the new church. The main pilgrimage takes place on the third Sunday in August for the feast of St. Roch. If you would like to time your trip to coincide with one of these recurring celebrations, check the dates for the relevant year.

An older landmark is the stone chapel of St. Roch, built or completed in 1824. A roller mill from the 19th century has also been preserved in Slopné as a technical monument. It was restored in 1991 and continues to operate as a commercial mill. If you would like to include the mill in your visit, check in advance whether a visit is possible.

Local customs also include an annual Shrovetide masked procession, now called Fašanky and formerly known as Babkovníci. The Easter customs of Klepačka and Mrskačka have also been preserved. These names give the traditions a specific local connection and distinguish them from the church pilgrimage dates.

Further natural and historical points of interest

Ore was mined at Rudovka below Klokočí. Another natural feature in Slopné is Čertovo kopyto, a notable natural formation. Together with the views, hilly terrain and mosaic of forest, woodlands, fields and meadows, these places and themes add more to the picture of the municipality than a single excursion focus. Slopné can thus be explored through a variety of interests: as the starting point for the Josef Váňa Nature Trail, as a place with recurring religious and seasonal traditions, or through its landscape and technical monuments.

Discover more destinations: Kašava, Trnava U Zlína, Návojná, Fryšták, Neubuz, Vlachova Lhota, Šarovy, Ludkovice

For the broader travel overview: Zlín District.