Suchovršice combines striking structures with traces of mining and a landscape of river valley, fields and forests. The wooden bell tower dates back to 1730, while the bridges evoke the 20th century. Those interested in cultural history can explore these traces from different periods alongside the village’s setting on the Úpa.
Bell Tower: Building History and Ringing
The wooden bell tower stands on a slope in the village centre. It dates from 1730 and was restored by the municipality in 1923. The wooden structure was reinforced, new cladding was added and the building was roofed with shingles. Its old-fashioned character was preserved during this work. The building thus reveals both its origins in the 18th century and a specific restoration in the early 20th century.
The ringing is also part of the bell tower’s history: it sounds regularly at noon and in the evening, and is now operated electrically. The traditional times of day for the ringing and its modern method of operation add another facet to the building’s history. For culture enthusiasts, the bell tower can therefore be understood not only by its age, but also by the function it continues to perform regularly.
Wooden Bridges and the Úpa
A covered wooden truss bridge in Suchovršice is a technical monument dating from 1922. A wooden footbridge is dated to 1935. These dates place the bridges in a different historical context from the 1730 bell tower. Their descriptions also differ: one bridge is notable for its covered truss structure and monument status, while the other is described by its function as a footbridge.
Suchovršice lies in a narrow valley on both banks of the Úpa. The river can be crossed at five bridges. This number makes the relationship between the village and the river tangible without singling out any one crossing. Fields and forests extend across the surrounding slopes and hills. The valley, river and higher ground thus form different aspects of the landscape around the village.
By Bike and on the Trail of Mining
A section of cycle route 4090, marked in blue, runs through Suchovršice; the municipality can also be crossed by bicycle. The first detail identifies a specific cycle route, while the second refers to the ability to travel through the municipality. These are two different points of reference for anyone exploring Suchovršice by bike.
A nature trail leads from the footbridge near Lhotách to the Zlatá jáma site. Traces have been preserved there that are associated with the purported first gold mine in Central Europe. The cautious wording “purported” preserves the nature of this tradition: it is a local historical attribution, not a confirmed ranking. Another link to mining is Stříbrný důl, an accessible example of medieval mining in the region. An application has been submitted to have it entered in the central register of immovable cultural monuments. Zlatá jáma and Stříbrný důl thus offer different perspectives on mining: preserved traces and a traditional attribution in one case, and an accessible example and an application for monument protection in the other.
Discover more destinations: Hajnice, Pilníkov, Svoboda Nad Upou, Čistá V Krkonoších, Dolní Malá Úpa, Hřibojedy, Velehrádek, Nemojov U Dvora Králové Nad Labem.
See the main travel overview: Okres Trutnov.
