Kunčice brings together several distinct themes: the Bystřice and its riverside landscape, the history of the village, and trails through the village and towards Hrádek. Nearby, Hrádek u Nechanic Castle and its park offer another destination; they lie outside the built-up area of Kunčice. This allows you to distinguish local nature and history from the castle’s seasonal visiting dates.
Nature and Village Landscape
The Bystřice Natural Monument covers a section of the Bystřice’s middle course, with typical riverside trees and shrubs. The habitat of the highly endangered, European-significance thick-shelled river mussel (Unio crassus) is actively protected there. There are six ponds in the area around Kunčice. The Kunčické rybníky form a group of three bodies of water on an unnamed stream that rises in the Obora forest. The area also has an unusually high number of protected summer oaks, which stand out as remarkable trees and shape the village landscape. The river, ponds and protected trees each give the landscape its own distinct character.
Traces of Local History
Kunčice was first mentioned as a settlement in 1382. A stone water castle once stood at the highest point of the village, protected by the Bystřice River; it had an associated farmyard. In 1721, the fortress was converted into a single-storey Baroque château. Around 1850, Betlach bought the Baroque château and its farmyard from Count Harrach. The farmyard was subsequently called Betlachův statek. The reconstructed Betlachův statek now serves as a leisure centre in Kunčice.
Trails through Kunčice and to the Castle
A green-marked hiking trail leads from Prasek through Kunčice to Hrádek. A separate route runs from Nechanice via Zvíkov: after 8.4 kilometres it reaches the village centre of Kunčice and then continues through the local forest towards the castle. For this route, the stated distance refers to the trail as far as the village centre; the section towards the castle follows after that. Check trail conditions and that the route is continuous before setting out.
Hrádek u Nechanic Castle Park
The nearby castle park at Hrádek u Nechanic was laid out in 1844 to a design by L. Krüger. Originally 29 hectares in size, it now covers about 18 hectares. A circular path through the park offers views of the castle, which stands on a gentle rise. This park walk is therefore distinct from the routes through Kunčice or towards the local forest.
Inside the castle, the basic tour showcases the residential culture of the nobility in the second half of the 19th century. The original, richly decorated interiors also include the Harrach family’s reception rooms on the ground floor. Visits are seasonal; check the dates before your trip. When planning, you can therefore decide whether to focus on the local river and pond landscape, the village’s history, or the nearby park and its castle rooms.
Discover more destinations: Káranice, Výrava, Sovětice, Těchlovice, Vysoká Nad Labem, Mžany, Stará Voda, Kosičky
For the wider travel overview: Hradec Králové District.
