A protected forge, St. Joseph’s Church and two marked routes offer practical points of interest for a stay in Vlčkovice v Podkrkonoší that combines architectural history with outdoor activities. The buildings range from a vaulted forge to a single-nave church; the village’s history includes an early written mention and an event from 1778. For planning, you can choose activities by type: cycling, hiking or sports at the court.
Buildings and their features
The forge at Horní Vlčkovice No. 21 is listed as a protected cultural monument. The building is vaulted; at its front is a horseshoeing shed with carved wooden pillars. The shed is therefore one of the forge’s architectural features, alongside its vaulted form.
St. Joseph’s Church is a single-nave building with a tower on its western façade. It has no prominent presbytery and ends in a polygonal apse. “Single-nave” describes a building with one main nave; “polygonal” means an ending with several sides. The church is a simple rural religious building, typical of the mid-19th century. The windows and entrance portal draw on late Neoclassical forms through restrained details. The main altar features a painting of Saint Joseph with the Christ Child by the painter Lorenz of Kuks.
Local history across different periods
The first written mention of Vlčkovice appears in a 1415 deed of sale between Jan Městecký z Opočna and Žofie, the widow of Jan Rothstein z Rothze. The deed states that the village was established in 1410: 1415 is therefore the date of the document, while 1410 is the date it gives for the village’s establishment. This distinction helps put the two dates in their proper context.
A later event in the village’s history dates to 1778. At that time, the Prussian king Frederick II (Bedřich II) established his headquarters in Vlčkovice. There are also several mass graves of Prussian soldiers in the village. The early mention and the military-history details provide different points of reference when exploring the village’s history.
Cycling route, hiking trail and sports
Cycling route No. 4098 passes through Vlčkovice, as does a blue-marked hiking trail. This means you can choose between cycling and hiking as distinct activities. The nearby Kuks Hospital can be reached on foot or by bicycle via the blue trail in the direction of Kuks. Check the current trail markings and signposts before setting out.
A 2019 description lists tennis, nohejbal and volleyball as activities available at the multi-purpose sports court in Vlčkovice. The enclosed court also has a table tennis facility. If you plan to play sports there, confirm the rental arrangements in advance.
Discover more destinations: Špindlerův Mlýn, Debrné, Horní Maršov, Vrchlabí, Černý Důl, Čermná v Krkonoších, Hertvíkovice, Batňovice.
For the broader travel overview: Trutnov District.
