Choustníkovo Hradiště brings together several distinct themes from the town’s history: a medieval castle site, the Baroque Church of the Elevation of the Holy Cross, and the memory of Franz Anton Sporck. It also has a clear connection to the regional cycling network for those travelling by bike. The town’s history and cycling connections offer different starting points for planning a stay.

Castle site on a rocky promontory

Choustníkovo Hradiště Castle was built in the early 14th century on a high rocky promontory, a location considered strategically advantageous. An Old Slavic fortified settlement had previously stood at the same site. The castle was later called Palackým Choustníkovo Hradiště. Its archaeological site has a three-part ground plan of the bergfried castle type. These details place the site in different contexts: the fortified settlement points to an earlier period, the castle’s construction to the early 14th century, and the ground-plan type to the structure’s architectural form. The rocky promontory, earlier fortification and castle are therefore all part of the town’s interconnected history, though they do not belong to the same period.

Church and crypt

The Baroque Church of the Elevation of the Holy Cross was built between 1760 and 1770 to a design by master builder and architect Leopolda Niederöcker. It was consecrated on 14 October 1770. The construction period and consecration date mark different stages: the years when it was built and the specific day it was consecrated. A crypt beneath the church tower contains, among others, the remains of nuns from the former convent and local priests. The church’s construction history can thus also be connected with the former convent and those buried there.

The Sporck Monument: copy and original

A bust of Count Franz Anton Sporck stands on a high pedestal in the park in front of the former Hotel Sporck. Today, only a dilapidated remnant of the former hotel remains. The Sporck bust monument was unveiled on 7 July 1901. The bust on the monument today is a copy; the original is in the ceremonial hall of the municipal office in Choustníkovo Hradiště. The copy and original are therefore in different locations: the monument is in the park, and the original is in the municipal office. If you plan to visit the area around the monument, check local access in advance.

Cycle route 4098 and its connections

The signposted regional cycle route 4098 reaches Choustníkovo Hradiště at kilometre 15 from Ratibořice. From Choustníkovo Hradiště, route 4098 continues via cycle route 4097 to Stanovice. There, it connects with route 24 and the Elbe Cycle Route (Labská stezka). The kilometre mark locates the town on route 4098; the continuation via route 4097 shows how the connection fits into the cycling network. This gives you two different perspectives when planning your trip: the castle site, church and Sporck Monument lead to the town’s historical themes, while the route numbers indicate connections towards Stanovice and other named routes. If you’re looking for a hotel for your stay, you can first decide whether the town’s history or its cycling connections will be the deciding factor for your trip.

Discover more destinations: Batňovice, Vlcice U Trutnova, Třebihošť, Debrne, Horni Olesnice, Borovnicka, Dolníky, Vrchlabi.

For the main travel overview: Okres Trutnov.