Rynholec lies on the northern edge of the Křivoklátské lesy. Its distinctive features range from the elongated village green to named landscape features and traces of medieval earthworks.
Landscape and Natural Features
A protected solitary lime tree is named Lípa v Rynholci and is located in the cadastral area of Rynholec. It has been under legal protection since 1990. Its estimated age is given as 220 years (as of 1 December 2009). Its crown height was recorded as 19 m on the same date; the tree height is 20 m (as of 16 January 2020). The different reference dates apply to the respective measurements: crown height and tree height were not recorded on the same day.
The registered significant landscape feature VKP Stráňky Rynholec comprises xerothermic grassland and meadows. “Xerothermic” describes dry, warm site conditions. Another landscape feature, VKP Remíz u trati, is a varied valley along the railway line in a landscape shaped by mining, near Rynholec. The agricultural countryside on the western and southwestern edges of the built-up area is exceptionally well preserved. The named landscape features therefore differ in character: dry, warm areas, a valley with a mining context, and agricultural land.
Village Center and Building History
In the northern and southeastern parts of the historic village center, a regular layout of houses and farmsteads arranged around a distinctly elongated rectangular village green has been preserved. The buildings are oriented with their gable ends facing the green. This term describes how the houses are positioned, with their gable sides facing the green; together with the green, this creates a clearly structured village layout.
The Chapel of St. Isidore is a small plastered masonry building with a rectangular floor plan and a gabled roof covered with slate. A gabled roof consists of two sloping roof surfaces that meet at the ridge; the slate covering identifies the material used. The historic Rynholecký dvůr lies on the southern edge of the municipality and has been preserved and successfully revitalized. The architectural features therefore range from the layout of the village green and the chapel’s architecture to a revitalized historic farmstead.
Earthworks and Choosing a Route
On the wooded hill of Starý zámek, about 2 km south of Rynholec, all that remains of Sobín is a hill with a relatively extensive medieval fortification. The rectangular site measures 70 × 100 m. Massive ramparts are visible on three sides; the ditches are now mostly filled in. The contrast between the visible ramparts and the mostly filled-in ditches shapes what can still be seen of the fortification. The Sobín site is freely accessible from the west via the adjacent field. As conditions on site may change, check access before your visit.
A marked educational trail offers a separate route option: it is about 10 kilometres long and follows field and forest roads, as well as paths through the town and countryside. Its approximate length provides a guide for planning, while the different types of routes show that the trail is not limited to a single kind of terrain. If you are more interested in architectural features, the village green, chapel and historic farmstead are the main highlights. If you would rather make the route itself the focus, the educational trail offers a clearly described alternative, approximately 10 kilometres long.
Discover more destinations: Nový Dům, Krusovice, Svojetín, Skryje, Třeboc, Bdín, Městečko, Lašovice
For the broader travel overview: Okres Rakovník.
