Třešňovka is a restored orchard avenue above Mžany, adding a distinctive feature to the landscape. Visitors considering Mžany as a destination can explore several different themes: an orchard avenue, a religious building with a spring, and various forms of commemoration. These are joined by the first recorded mention of the village in 1404 and the history of a brewery whose aim was to preserve rural traditions of life.

Třešňovka and the landscape

The orchard avenue in Mžany, historically known as Třešňovka, was restored, with the work completed on 24 October 2015. Above the village, it runs along a side road lined mainly with cherry trees. Its name, restoration and location give the avenue its own place in the village’s history: this is a landscape feature in its renewed form, not a war memorial or a building.

Chapel and spring

The freestanding, masonry Chapel of Our Lady of Lourdes stands at a road junction, surrounded by mature trees. Its surroundings include notable, protected lime trees. A spring is also located by the chapel. Known as the “Miracle Spring,” it provides water even during the most severe droughts. Architecture, trees and a spring with a distinctive local name thus come together here. Those interested in religious heritage will find a different perspective here from the history of the 1866 battle.

Memorial sites and the landscape of 1866

The war memorials also differ in dedication and location. A large memorial to the victims of both world wars stands in the centre of Mžany. A memorial to the victims of the 1866 war is located in the southwest of the Mžany settlement, while the grave of the Prussian soldier Michalaz lies to the east. These memorial sites therefore do not all commemorate the same historical events.

Mžany and the associated settlements of Stračovská Lhota and Dub lie in the landscape where the Austro-Prussian War of 1866 reached its climax. The battle’s first artillery volleys were fired from Dubský hájek, between Dub and Stračovská Lhota. This places the commemoration of 1866 in a wider landscape context: as well as the memorial in Mžany, the story of the first volleys from the named wood is part of this theme.

Local history and brewing tradition

Mžany is first mentioned in 1404. This is an early recorded mention of the village, not necessarily its year of foundation. Pivovar Lindr Mžany represents a different historical period. The brewery was established with the aim of reviving and preserving rural traditions of life. The extensive reconstruction of the dilapidated building led to the completion of the brewery as it operates today in 2014. Pivovar Lindr Mžany produces all its beers on site using Czech malt, Saaz hops and selected brewer’s yeast. The brewery’s history thus combines a specific reconstruction project with a clearly described local brewing operation.

Discover more destinations: Klamoš, Nechanice, Stračov, Libčany, Těchlovice, Kunčice, Šaplava, Lubno

For the wider travel overview: Hradec Králové District.