A stay in Jaroslav can be explored through two especially tangible themes: the Easter Vodění Jidáše tradition and the pond landscape shaped by the Lodrantka. There are also places of remembrance with historical connections, as well as trails in the surrounding area. This lets you choose between a focus on cultural history and one on the landscape.
The waterscape around Jaroslav
Jaroslav lies in the Lodrantka catchment area. The stream rises west of the village in wooded areas and feeds a pond on the western edge of Jaroslav. The ponds of Jaroslav are also where landscape and history meet: two derelict ponds, probably dating from the 18th century, have been reconstructed, and a wetland has also been created. The restoration was completed in 2019–2020. The sites are in a forest complex above Road 35 and above the municipality.
At the dam of the lower pond of Rybníky Jaroslav, an original oak pipe from the bottom outlet of the two ponds is on display. This component gives the pond landscape a tangible connection to water management. There is also a game reserve with fallow deer and mouflons in a forest not far from Jaroslav.
Vodění Jidáše: a tradition with a set sequence
Vodění Jidáše is an annual tradition and the culmination of the Easter processions of children with rattles and clappers. The tradition was added to the List of Intangible Assets of Traditional and Folk Culture of the Czech Republic in 2012; its practice was also documented in Jaroslav in 2024.
In the final procession on Holy Saturday, a boy wears a costume made of straw or tow. A verse about the treacherous Judas is recited. The children visit the village houses and collect gifts. To conclude, the costume is ceremonially burned, the verse is recited one last time, and the reward is shared among the participants. The procession, verse and communal conclusion are thus part of one connected sequence.
Places of remembrance and local history
Several places link Jaroslav and its surroundings to different historical events. Gottlův kříž marks the place where the last owner of the Zámrsk estate died on 17 January 1941. In Borek, a memorial commemorates the fallen Soviet soldier Saša Lepšin.
The Chapel of the Virgin Mary was built in 1906 in the forest to the left of the road to Horní Jelení. House No. 3 was one of three parts of the Jaroslav estate; this estate later became part of the Zámrsk estate. The former school building dates from 1886. Together, these places offer different points of connection to the village’s history, from the historic estate to the remembrance of a specific person.
Trails and local facilities
Several hiking trails and cycling routes run through the area around Jaroslav. A route listing last updated in 2009 shows KČT cycle route No. 4195 passing through Jaroslav; check the current route markings before setting out. Alongside the landscape attractions, this gives you a choice of routes to plan on foot or by bike.
Behind the former school building are two pétanque courts and a rectangular multi-purpose court with a permanently installed basketball hoop. The former school building contains a large community hall. These local features add community and sports facilities to the picture of Jaroslav.
Discover more destinations: Časy, Kunětice, Pardubice, Horní Jelení, Trusnov, Holotín, Úhřetická Lhota, Holice V Čechách
For the wider travel overview: Pardubice District.
