A nature trail that begins in Vysoké Veselí runs through Veselský háj and several named places to Češov, before returning via Volanice. There is also a natural monument with forest habitats and a pond, as well as historic buildings from different centuries. This gives you two clear focuses when planning your trip: a longer route or the town’s cultural history. If you are looking for a holiday apartment for your stay, these interests can help you decide which options to compare.
Nature Trail and Natural Monument
The Vysoké Veselí nature trail runs via Kákovice, Veselský háj, Velešice, Sběř and Kozojedy to Češov, returning via Volanice. Including the branches, the route is 18.6 kilometres long. It is suitable for hiking and cycling, including on trekking, cross-country or mountain bikes. If you make the tour your main focus, you can use the total distance to gauge the scope of the outing; the branches are already included. As route details may change through local maintenance, check the current route before setting out.
Veselský háj is also a natural monument. It protects valuable oak-hornbeam forests and old, nutrient-poor oak forests with pedunculate oaks (Quercus robur). The Smrkovák pond lies within the protected area and is an important bird habitat. The natural monument also provides suitable conditions for highly endangered plants such as the superb pink (Dianthus superbus L. s.s.) and Siberian iris (Iris sibirica), as well as other specially protected species such as variegated monkshood (Aconitum variegatum) and violet helleborine (Epipactis purpurata). Forest habitats, the pond and conditions for plant conservation are thus distinct aspects of the same natural area.
Architectural History and Sculptures
The Church of St Nicholas of Tolentino was first mentioned in writing in 1335. Its present form dates back to a Baroque church built in 1770, which was later remodelled in the Empire style after a fire. The oldest house in Vysoké Veselí is a large, multi-storey Renaissance house with an arcade, built in 1586. Together, these dates provide a timeline: the church’s first recorded mention goes back to the Middle Ages, while the house and the church’s present form represent later building phases.
A sandstone pillar with a Pietà stands in the village square beside a through road. The sculpture is unsigned and dates from 1808. The Pietà pillar is one of the sculptures regarded as valuable evidence of Baroque forms continuing in rural settings into the early 19th century. Another sandstone pillar, bearing a statue of St Wenceslas, stands on the road to the château. This sculpture is also unsigned and dates from 1807. The dates are only a year apart, but refer to different sculptures at different locations. Another historic change involved the original fortress: after 1745, it was converted into a Baroque château, which has since been modernised. A garden was laid out on the site of the fortifications.
Plan a Concert and Stay
The Vackovo Vysoké Veselí concert, traditionally held at the end of June, features leading performers in brass music. If you would like to plan your stay around the concert, check the specific event dates. The local public library is Vysoké Veselí’s cultural information centre and adds to the cultural points of interest for your trip. Whether the nature trail, natural monument, architectural history or concert is your main draw, these highlights offer different starting points for planning your trip and accommodation.
Discover more destinations: Kacákova Lhota, Bašnice, Milovice U Hořic, Jinolice, Konecchlumí, Třebnouševes, Kbelnice, Lazne Belohrad.
Return to the main travel overview: Okres Jičín.
