Javorník invites you to explore history on two scales: through named buildings and through the traces that fortifications and mining have left in the landscape. There is also an 8-kilometre hiking route and cycle route 4299, whose course is specified by name. These offer different ways to plan a trip: cultural monuments reveal several historical layers, while the routes provide orientation through their length, course and connection to the landscape.
Church, chapel and distinct historical layers
The Church of Saint Martin in Javorník is a registered cultural monument. The building dates from 1707 to 1708. An older church stood at the same site, dating to 1354 and serving as a subsidiary church of Rudník. The history of the church site therefore spans two distinct periods of construction: the older church of the 14th century and the building from 1707 to 1708.
A registered chapel with a Pietà stands at house number 25. It adds another specific cultural monument, featuring a named religious depiction, to the history of church architecture.
Fortifications and archaeological traces
The Tvrziště of Javorník offers a different perspective on the area’s historical heritage. It is a moated castle, characterized by a conical mound and a wide moat fed by a nearby stream. A Gothic cellar and a possible remnant of a residential tower survive in the eastern part.
The built-up area of Javorník is also designated as an archaeological site dating from the Middle Ages to the modern era. This places specific building remains alongside a broad chronological archaeological classification as distinct aspects of the area’s history.
Jiřský příkop and the history of mining
Another feature of the landscape is the man-made Jiřský příkop. It is 675 metres long and crosses the ridge between the Stránský and Žabí streams. Within the cadastral area of Javorník, it lies between Rudník and Jánská hora. This historic mining structure has side ditches and several small, collapsed shafts.
In some places, Jiřský příkop is more than 30 metres wide and up to 20 metres deep. These measurements give an idea of the dimensions the ditch reaches at certain points, in addition to its length. Together with the side ditches and shafts, this mining structure makes the history of the landscape a subject in its own right alongside the church and moated castle.
Hiking and cycling routes
The 8-kilometre Rudník–Javorník–Hertvíkovice route passes through foothill countryside and offers views of the Krkonoše Mountains. Its length, scenery and views are useful points of reference for a hike. Route conditions may change; check them before setting out.
Cycle route 4299 runs from Kunčice to Pilníkov via Dolní Lánov, Fořt, Rudník, Javorník v Krkonoších and Vlčice. Here, the route number, endpoints and named places provide the main points of reference. The two options therefore differ in the planning information available: a length is given for the hiking route, while the cycling route can be followed by its named places. Conditions on the cycling route may also change; check them before setting out.
Discover more destinations: Rtyne V Podkrkonosi, Stanovice U Kuksu, Jivka, Velehrádek, Velké Svatoňovice, Doubravice U Dvora Králové, Svoboda Nad Upou, Slemeno.
For the wider travel overview: Okres Trutnov.
