Krty combines a distinctive Slavic circular village layout with a church on a rectangular village square and the Krtské skály Natural Monument in the forest south of the village. There are also specific landmarks to help you find hiking trails and individual destinations in the forest. If you are planning a stay, you can focus on local history, architecture or hiking.

Village layout and history

Krty has a distinctive Slavic circular village layout, known in Czech as Okrouhlice. The village was first mentioned in 1227, when it belonged to Rabštejn Castle. The circular layout describes the shape of the village, while the year provides an early historical reference point. In Krty, a striking feature of the settlement’s layout thus meets a specific historical context.

The Church of Saint Adalbert

On the northern edge of the rectangular village square stands the originally early Baroque Church of Saint Adalbert. It was built in 1682, remodelled in 1737 and renovated in 1931. Its design offers another perspective: the church has a single-nave floor plan and a semicircular presbytery. The nave has a barrel vault, while the sacristy has a flat ceiling. Both the floor plan and architectural form, as well as the different ceiling structures, are among the church’s distinctive features.

Granite quarrying and the natural monument

The J. Pokornyho granite quarry in Krty was established in 1872. It was probably the oldest and largest operation of its kind in the former Podbořany political district. Between 1898 and 1900, it employed up to 100 workers. The founding year and the date-specific workforce figure provide concrete historical reference points for the history of granite quarrying.

Granite quarrying near Krty has ended; the area is now protected as the Krtské skály Natural Monument and lies in the forest south of Krty. The history of quarrying and its current protected status offer two different perspectives on the area over time. For planning your visit, this landscape perspective complements the historical and architectural features in the village.

Hiking destinations and directions

Čertův kámen lies just beyond Krty, close to the blue-marked trail towards Krtské skály. A sign points to the rock at the turn-off; in the forest, it is about 100 metres to the left of the main trail. Keep the trail and location details distinct: the blue trail leads towards Krtské skály, while the rock’s approximate position is described relative to the main trail.

Tourist Route 1020 runs from U můstku via Krty and Krty railway station to the Krtské skály junction. It provides a different level of orientation from the directions to Čertův kámen: the route lists a series of places and a junction, while the rock is located by its turn-off and approximate position in the forest. This lets you consider a route and an individual destination using different reference points.

Another destination is Trpasličí díra, a cavity that still exists in the municipal forest southeast of Krty. You can only get inside by crawling on your stomach. This unusual way of getting in is an important consideration when deciding whether to include the destination in your plans: as well as its location, getting inside is a practical part of the visit.

Discover more destinations: Ruda U Nového Strašecí, Kounov, Řeřichy, Nezabudice, Panoší Újezd, Děkov, Bdín, Václavy.

For the wider travel overview: Rakovník District.