Hvozd combines trails through a varied landscape with natural and cultural monuments. Part of the municipality lies within Kladecko Nature Park, which also includes the Taramka Natural Monument. In the village itself, a chapel, a stone cross and roadside shrines offer further places to visit for those interested in nature and culture.
Natural landscape and views
Taramka Natural Monument is home to fragments of Hercynian oak-hornbeam forests, species-rich, calcareous beech forests, and a mesophilic tall oat-grass meadow. Protected and endangered species are among the plants found there. The Špraněk also shapes the landscape: it flows through the cadastral area of Hvozd in a deeply incised valley, with karst formations in the surrounding area.
South of Hvozd, Stráž Hill offers a different view of the surroundings. The furthest visible places are up to 63 kilometres away; how far you can see on any given day depends on visibility. Taramka is notable for its special habitats, while Stráž opens up views across the wider landscape.
Hiking and cycling routes
A blue-marked hiking trail leads from Malé Hradisko through Stražisko and Budětsko, via Hvozd, to Vojtěchov. The yellow-marked trail runs from Vojtěchov to Javoříčko through the Hvozd planning area. The two routes differ in their named starting and finishing points, as well as their courses. If you plan to take either one, check the trail markings and conditions in advance, as both can change.
The five-kilometre Špraněk Educational Trail also runs near Hvozd as a circular route through the Špraněk National Nature Reserve. It starts and ends at the Javoříčské Caves; part of its route passes through the Hvozd planning area. Cyclists can take cycle route No. 5277, which runs through the planning area between Milkov and Bohuslavice. The routes described here therefore differ not only in their markings, but also in the places they connect and the type of route.
Springs and surrounding landscape
The source of the Pilávka stream lies in a forest between Hvozd and Bohuslavice. From the road from Bohuslavice to Hvozd, a footpath leads to the spring after about 300 metres. Trail conditions can change, so take this into account when planning your visit. According to local legend, a stone statue in the area is called Pilávka and is described as a petrified fairy. The spring and the legendary figure share a name, but they are separate places to visit.
Small cultural monuments in Hvozd
The Chapel of Saint Wenceslas stands in the village square and is classified as a monument of local significance. Its slender bell tower and resemblance to a small church define its appearance; the year 1906 is inscribed above the entrance. A stone cross stands in front of the chapel. Together, the chapel and cross form a distinctive landmark in the village square.
A roadside shrine near house No. 94 is a block-shaped structure with a glazed front niche and an example of 18th-century vernacular architecture. Another roadside shrine on the road to Luká is also protected as an immovable cultural monument and dates from the 18th century. Together, they offer two different examples of small-scale religious architecture in and near Hvozd.
A historical connection
Hvozdecká cesta is also part of the area's history: in 1279, it was mentioned as a link between the area around Mohelnice and Litovel, and Konice. The routes in the area today and this historical reference offer different perspectives on Hvozd, from hiking and cycling connections to older transport links.
Discover more destinations: Čelechovice Na Hané, Suchdol, Horní Štěpánov, Ptení, Obědkovice, Prostějov, Stařechovice, Brodek U Konice.
For the overview of the wider area, see: Prostějov District.
