Rocky slopes above the Berounka, a red-marked hiking trail and various traces of local history give Nezabudice a clear thematic character. The Nezabudické skály Nature Reserve focuses on rocks and reptile fauna. St Lawrence’s Church, the Jaroslav Franěk Memorial Room and the Nezabudický Mill offer other perspectives on architecture, biography and literature. When planning your trip, it is worth distinguishing between these highlights: access to the protected area is limited, and the seasonal ferry service is also a separate planning consideration.

Rocky slopes and protected reptiles

The Nezabudické skály Nature Reserve lies on a steep south-facing slope above the Berounka. It protects rocky slopes with a very diverse reptile fauna, including European green lizards and smooth snakes. The slope, rocky habitat and the species mentioned together shape the area’s natural character; Nezabudice thus offers a tangible connection between the landscape and protected wildlife.

Access to the nature reserve is restricted to marked hiking trails in the area of its northern and southern boundaries. A road runs along the southern boundary. Nezabudice also has a red-marked KČT hiking trail, which is referred to as the Way of St James. If you are planning a hike, you can use this trail designation as a guide to the local hiking routes, while also bearing in mind the limited access to the protected area.

Church, memorial room and mill history

St Lawrence’s Church stands in a prominent position above the centre of Nezabudice, on a low rise beside a former small cemetery. The building has a single nave, a polygonal chancel closed on three sides, and a two-storey west tower. “Single-nave” describes the church’s main interior space; the chancel is the choir area, and “polygonal” describes its many-sided end. This makes it possible to understand the church’s architectural layout through its floor plan and tower.

One particularly distinctive architectural detail is an original Gothic pointed-arch window. It is now bricked up and has rough, two-part stone tracery. The pointed arch describes the window’s upward-tapering shape, while the tracery is its stone framework. This detail brings the original design and the building’s present condition together, offering a distinctive perspective on the church’s architectural history.

The Jaroslav Franěk Memorial Room is dedicated to Jaroslav Franěk, a legionnaire and resistance fighter born in Nezabudice. His life story is also associated with U Rozvědčíka: Franěk opened the inn in 1934. Today, U Rozvědčíka is an iconic excursion inn. Two distinct aspects of his story therefore sit side by side in Nezabudice: a memorial dedicated to him and an excursion inn whose opening is linked to Franěk.

Another cultural trace is the Nezabudický Mill, a Baroque mill complex with a core dating from the 17th to 18th centuries. The mill is also known from the stories of the writer Ota Pavel. Its literary connection complements its architectural context: while the dating describes the complex’s historic core, the link to Pavel points to its role in literature. Together with the church and the Jaroslav Franěk Memorial Room, the mill offers another thematic approach to local history.

Plan for the hiking trail and ferry

The Ota Pavel Ferry crosses the Berounka from Luh below Branov to Nezabudice. Its seasonal service may vary; if you are planning a crossing, check the timetable in advance. The ferry provides a specific river crossing between the places mentioned, while the red-marked KČT hiking trail is referred to as the Way of St James. Both details help with orientation without implying that they form a single route.

When choosing what to focus on, you can distinguish between the nature reserve, hiking and the area’s cultural traces. If you are especially interested in the landscape, take the nature reserve’s limited access into account when planning. The architecture, Jaroslav Franěk and the literary connection of the Nezabudický Mill offer other perspectives. This allows you to explore Nezabudice according to your own interests, while checking the ferry timetable remains a practical step if you are planning a crossing.

Discover more destinations

Krakov, Mutějovice, Zavidov, Řevničov, Pochvalov, Hořovičky, Drahouš, Šípy

Return to the overview of the wider area: Rakovník District.