In Podhorni Ujezd A Vojice, the history of sandstone stretches from quarrying to a monument made from local stone. There are also sculpture groups, sandstone and half-timbered houses as examples of regional folk architecture, and a fruit-growing educational trail with a rest area and information board. These highlights offer different points of reference when choosing your stay: are you particularly interested in the history of the material, works of sculpture, or fruit growing? When looking for a holiday apartment, you can use these interests to guide your choice of destination.

Sandstone and its history

Sandstone quarrying began in Podhorní Újezd a Vojice around the middle of the 17th century. A later, dated example of the use of local material is the Jan Hus Monument in Vojice: it was made in 1897 from stone from local quarries. The two dates show different aspects of local history—the approximate beginning of extraction and the use of stone for a monument.

The biography of sculptor Ladislav Jan Kofránek adds another perspective on the craft: Vojice was his birthplace, and he came from an old stonemason family. Thus, alongside the material itself, the focus also includes sculpture and a family background in the craft. The details about Kofránek are a separate biographical connection, while the Jan Hus Monument is explicitly linked to stone from local quarries.

Sculptures in Vojice and Podhorní Újezd

The sculpture group of Saint John of Nepomuk dates from 1747 and was donated by Valdice Monastery. It stands on the main road towards Hradec Králové–Jičín, at the turn-off to Vojice. Its year of creation is exactly 150 years before the 1897 Jan Hus Monument; the two dates thus mark different periods in local history.

Another group forms part of a column monument in the upper part of the settlement of Podhorní Újezd. It comprises Saint Anne, Saint Wenceslas, Saint John the Baptist, and two angels. A stone enclosure surrounds the monument; it stands on the road behind house no. 70. The named figures and the enclosure give the work a different composition from the group of Saint John of Nepomuk.

Folk architecture and fruit growing

Sandstone and half-timbered houses in Podhorní Újezd a Vojice represent regional folk architecture. They complement the individual sculptural monuments with a look at building styles. While the monuments are distinguished by figures, donors, or dates, sandstone and half-timbering describe an architectural aspect of the locality.

The fruit-growing educational trail offers a different thematic focus. In Podhorní Újezd, it has a rest area with an information board about fruit growing. Fruit growing and a designated place to rest are therefore also among the local visitor attractions. The board draws attention to fruit growing, while the houses and sculptures show other aspects of regional history and design.

Directions and getting there

Pyrám is an old stone signpost at a crossroads on routes towards Hradec Králové–Jičín and Sobčice–Vojice. Check its condition before visiting.

There is a train stop in Vojice. Check current train services before travelling.

Discover more destinations: Zámezí, Chyjice, Libošovice, Kněžnice, Jitschin, Luzany U Jicína, Meziluzi, Vysoké Veselí

For the broader travel overview: Okres Jičín.