Rybitví combines a distinct local history with practical route options. In 1827, the Veverka cousins completed their experiments with the “ruchadlo” plough here; a monument commemorates the first successful trial. For visitors, it is important to know that the cousins’ birthplace is currently closed. A yellow-marked hiking route and a cycling route for certain types of bicycles differ significantly in length and mode of transport.
The Ruchadlo, Local History and Monument
František Veverka was a farmer, and Václav Veverka was a blacksmith. In 1827, the cousins completed their approximately three-year-long experiments with a new plough design in Rybitví; local residents called the device “ruchadlo”. It made it easier to regulate ploughing depth and turned and loosened the soil. The device’s adjustment and its two effects on the soil are therefore clearly distinguished.
Five years later, in 1832, Jan Kainz, an official of the Choltice estate, exhibited the ruchadlo at an agricultural exhibition as his own invention. He presented it under the name “Kainz plough”. The dates clearly distinguish the events: the experiments ended in 1827, and Kainz’s exhibition followed five years later.
The monument to the first successful trial consists of a bronze ruchadlo on a stone plinth near the former blacksmith’s shop. It commemorates the trial itself, not the later exhibition. The development, presentation and commemoration are thus distinct points of reference in the town’s history.
Routes and Getting There
A 3 km yellow-marked hiking route leads to Rybitví and ends at a city public transport (MHD) stop.
The 52 km “Podél Opatovického kanálu až ke koním” route is designated for road and trekking bikes and lists the Veverka cousins’ birthplace as a point of interest. This house, “Rodný domek br. Veverkových”, is currently closed. A restoration project for the house and its surroundings is currently being prepared, and a suitable option is being selected. The difference between the routes is not just their length: the hiking route ends at an MHD stop, while the cycling route lists the birthplace as a point of interest. If you would like to visit the birthplace, check its current status in advance.
Two DPMP lines connect Hlavní nádraží with Rybitví. According to the timetable valid from 27 July 2026, Line 33 connects Hlavní nádraží with Rybitví via Globus. DPMP Line 3 connects Hlavní nádraží with Rybitví and Lázně Bohdaneč. Both lines serve Hlavní nádraží and Rybitví; Globus is on Line 33’s route, while Lázně Bohdaneč is served by Line 3. Check the current timetable before travelling, as routes and times may change.
Discover more destinations: Zdechovice, Kojice, Řečany Nad Labem, Dašice, Trnavka, Bukovina Nad Labem, Labské Chrčice, Chýšť.
For the broader travel overview: Okres Pardubice.
