Stružinec combines the landscape of the Žlábek Valley with distinctive sandstone monuments. The village lies in the valley of the Žlábek stream. The valley is surrounded by the hills of Hůrka and Stránsko and, to the northwest, by the Mákové vrchy hills. From Hůrka, you can enjoy a view across a large part of Český ráj. This gives you two clearly distinct focal points for planning your trip: the landscape, with its hills and paths, and the cultural monuments in the village.
Valley, Views and Trails
The signposted KČT cycle route No. 4174 runs through Stružinec and leads from Lomnice nad Popelkou via Stružinec, Košťálov, Benešov u Semil and Jablonec nad Jizerou. The area around Stružinec offers ideal conditions for cycling, running and hiking; cross-country skiing is possible when snow conditions are good. The red-marked Zlatá stezka Českého ráje hiking route also runs near Bezděčín. For choosing your route, the locations are important: route No. 4174 passes through Stružinec, while the Zlatá stezka runs near Bezděčín. Cycling, running and hiking are other options in the surrounding area; cross-country skiing requires good snow conditions. This lets you distinguish between a specifically named cycling route, a hiking route near Bezděčín and the other outdoor activities.
Sandstone and Religious Sculptures
In the lower part of Stružinec, a statue of Saint John of Nepomuk stands on a small rise on the left-hand side of the road towards Lomnice nad Popelkou–Košťálov. It is carved from porphyritic red sandstone. The present-day bell tower in Stružinec was also built from red sandstone in 1843. In 2022, a bell was returned to the tower with the help of a public collection and donations from local residents. At the statue, red sandstone takes the form of a sculpture; at the tower, it is used as a building material—two distinct forms of local cultural heritage.
The stone sculptural group depicting the Coronation of the Virgin Mary in Stružinec was created in 1855 in the Neo-Gothic style. The seated Virgin Mary is crowned by God the Father and Jesus Christ; above the scene, the Holy Spirit hovers in the form of a dove. The work is considered one of the highest-quality monuments of its kind in the Semily area. In contrast to the statue of Saint John of Nepomuk, this work centers on a multi-figure depiction. The works can also be placed in chronological order: the creation of the sculptural group in 1855 followed the construction of the present-day bell tower in 1843.
More Places to Visit
Popular visitor destinations also include the well-kept area around the pond, the park by the primary school, the football pitch, the tennis courts and a children’s playground. The pond area and the park by the primary school are different kinds of destinations from the sports facilities and the playground, so the selection also includes places beyond religious art. The Masopust carnival procession is a popular event in Stružinec. If you are considering visiting for the event, check in advance whether it falls within your travel dates.
Discover more destinations: Vítkovice V Krkonoších, Harrachov, Bukovina U Čisté, Bítouchov, Sekerkovy Loučky, Zalesni Lhota, Přepeře, Václaví.
For the broader travel overview: Okres Semily.
