Starkov is a choice for travelers who don’t want to reduce nature and culture to a single theme: Stárkovské bučiny and the streams in the Metuje and Dřevíč protected area are part of the picture, as are the Vysoký kámen rock crevice, the rectory, and the Stations of the Cross. The hiking route to the rock is particularly clear: a blue-marked trail leads there from the market square in Stárkov.

Beech forests and stream protection

Starkov lies in the Broumovsko Protected Landscape Area. Stárkovské bučiny is designated as a Site of Community Importance and lies in Zone II of the protected landscape area. Its unique complex includes flower-rich beech forests, as well as scree forests and meadows in places. Those who like to understand landscapes through their habitats will find several distinct elements here, rather than a single type of forest.

The streams represent a different conservation focus: Dřevíč, also known as Olšavka, and Jívka are part of the Metuje and Dřevíč Site of Community Importance. It was designated to protect the brook lamprey. The nature themes are therefore clearly distinct: Stárkovské bučiny focuses on forest and meadow habitats, while the named stream area focuses on waterways and the protection of the brook lamprey.

Hiking to Vysoký kámen

A blue-marked hiking trail leads from the market square in Stárkov to Vysoký kámen. The rock crevice is more than 100 meters long and more than 20 meters deep. It lies on the southwestern edge of the inner coastal structure of the Polická Cretaceous Basin and is associated with a popular tourist viewpoint. The trail indicates a specific starting point; the measurements give an idea of the scale of this rock formation.

Local legends also shape the destination: stories of hidden treasure and an underground city of dwarves explain the popular name “Trpasličí rokle,” by which the rock crevice is also known. At Vysoký kámen, geological context, a marked hiking trail, and local folklore thus come together. Those who choose nature destinations not only for their landscape but also for their traditions will find both at this same named place.

Architectural history and routes

The rectory in Stárkov was rebuilt in its present form in 1660. It is described as the oldest secular building in East Bohemia. Thus, a precisely dated building project stands alongside a distinctive classification in the region’s architectural history.

The Stations of the Cross end at the Baroque Chapel of the Fourteen Holy Helpers. For the rectory, its rebuilding history is the specific point of interest; for the Stations of the Cross, it is the chapel as a named endpoint. These offer two different ways to explore Starkov’s cultural heritage: a single historic building and a route with a clearly identified destination.

Cycling routes and roads are also part of the planning: a network connects Stárkov to nearby nature destinations and towns. This provides another option alongside the blue-marked hiking trail to Vysoký kámen. You can therefore plan your trip around a specific hiking destination or consider cycling routes and roads as connections to nature destinations and nearby towns.

Discover more destinations: Provodov-Šonov, Šestajovice U Jaroměře, Zlic, Vestec U Hořiček, Machov, Běluň, Hronov, Dolany U Jaromere

Go to the overview of the wider travel area: Okres Náchod.