Hroubovice brings together Jewish heritage and the Anenské Valley nature reserve as two distinct themes for a stay. Its historical focus ranges from the Jewish cemetery to the Holocaust memorial; the valley is known for protected habitats and documented species. When planning, you can decide whether to explore local history, nature, or both.
Jewish Cemetery of Hroubovice
The Jewish cemetery of Hroubovice was established around the middle of the 18th century and expanded in the middle of the 19th century. Around 250 tombstones dating from 1788 to 1966 have been preserved. The cemetery grounds therefore date back earlier than the period covered by the surviving tombstones. The cemetery is part of a group of East Bohemian Jewish cemeteries featuring distinctive tombstone symbolism on stelae from the late 18th century and the first half of the 19th century.
The cemetery is locked; you can borrow the key from the Hroubovice municipal office. Access arrangements may change, so check the current procedure before your visit. In terms of historical interpretation, the cemetery offers a different perspective from the Holocaust memorial: here, the surviving tombstones and their symbolism take center stage.
Holocaust Memorial and Memorial Park
On December 11, 2017, a Holocaust memorial was unveiled and a memorial park opened on the site of the demolished synagogue. The memorial names 39 Jewish residents who were deported to Theresienstadt in November 1942 and subsequently to Auschwitz. While the Hroubovice cemetery sheds light on the history of a burial ground and its tombstones, the memorial specifically commemorates the deported residents. Together, the two sites represent different forms of remembrance of Jewish life and its history in Hroubovice.
Anenské Valley: Protected Area and Habitats
The Anenské Valley nature reserve is a European Site of Community Importance. Its Natura 2000 code is CZ0534051. The area extends through the valley of the Anenský stream between Štěpánov, Přibylov, Nová Ves, and Hroubovice, north of Skuteč. Hroubovice is therefore one of the explicitly named reference points for the extent of the protected area.
Protected habitats include ash- and alder-rich alluvial forests, dry calcareous grasslands, and extensively mown meadows from the lowlands to the foothills. They also include habitats of the dusky large blue butterfly. Documented amphibians, reptiles, and butterflies include the fire salamander, grass snake, and dusky large blue butterfly. The range from alluvial forest to calcareous grassland makes clear that the protected area comprises different habitat types; the species mentioned provide specific examples of its natural features.
Cycling When Planning Your Trip
A regional development strategy from 2020 identifies cycle paths and cycling routes in Hroubovice. If you would like to include cycling in your stay, check for current route information before planning. This makes cycling another distinct planning option alongside local history and nature, without requiring you to combine the themes into a single itinerary.
Discover more destinations: Vitanov, Drevikov, Dvakačovice, Slatinany, Chroustovice, Sec, Přestavlky, Křižanovice
For the broader travel overview: Okres Chrudim.
