Hladké Životice combines marked trails with a rich local religious history. A stone church dating from the 17th century, chapels and crosses provide tangible historical landmarks; at the same time, a cycle route and a blue-marked hiking trail pass through Hladké Životice. The surviving remains of the Životice fishponds and the landscape of the Bartošovický luh Nature Reserve, which also extends into the cadastral area of Hladké Životice, add to the picture.

Landscape Between the Valley and Wetlands

The village lies in a gentle valley on the banks of the Husí potok. Around Hladké Životice, remnants of the Životice fishpond dams have been preserved; they invite visitors to explore and relax on a walk. The fishpond dams provide a clear point of reference for a stroll.

The Bartošovický luh Nature Reserve is part of the wider landscape. It includes the naturally meandering course of the Oder, wetlands, reed beds, floodplain meadows and wetland forests. The protected area extends across the cadastral areas of Bartošovice, Hukovice, Hladké Životice and Pustějov.

Churches, Chapels and Crosses

The Church of St. Nicholas was built as a new stone church in 1686. The chapels also provide tangible landmarks in the village’s religious history: the Chapel of St. Florian stands at the upper edge of the village in the direction of Fulnek, while “Michelova kaplička” is in the built-up part of Hladké Životice. The Chapel of St. Agnes and St. Zdislava stands by a linden tree in the direction of Kunín.

The crosses are easy to distinguish by their material and date: a sandstone Latin cross dates from 1870, the torso of the Liebscher Cross, dating from 1877, has been preserved, and the wooden Mission Cross dates from 1912. The timeline spans from the late 17th-century church to the Mission Cross of 1912.

Hiking and Cycling

The blue-marked hiking trail passes through Hladké Životice and is considered an easy route through the Oder Valley between Jistebník and Suchdol nad Odrou. Cycle route 6131 also runs through the village, using third-class roads as well as local and purpose-built tracks. Its surfaces are paved or surfaced, and the route is suitable for all types of bicycles.

To choose an activity for the day, compare the two routes: the hiking trail stands out for its easy character and route through the Oder Valley; for the cycle route, the practical planning details are the types of roads, surfaces and suitability for all types of bicycles. In the 2026 route itinerary of the Klubu českých turistů, a hiking route starts at Hladké Životice railway station and follows the blue-marked trail towards Bartošovice. If you plan to start at the station, check the timetable separately.

Discover more destinations: Jakubčovice Nad Odrou, Mankovice, Frenstat Pod Radhostem, Vrchy, Bartošovice, Nový Svet, Šenov U Nového Jičína, Kateřinice

For the broader travel overview: Okres Nový Jičín.