History, an Easter tradition and a cycling route give Stradouň three distinct points of interest. If you’re looking for a holiday apartment, you can plan your stay around whether you’re visiting at Easter, are interested in the town’s earlier history, or want to include a cycling route in your itinerary. There are different points of reference for each: historical accounts, an Easter tradition lasting several days, and a regional cycling route.

Local History and Accounts

The first written mention of Stradouň dates back to 1160. At that time, Vladyka Štěpán donated the proceeds from a customs post to Podlažice Monastery. Stradouň also lay on the important Trstenická trade route. These details shed light on different aspects of earlier trade: a specific customs payment and the course of an important route. According to local lore, human bones were found in a hill and attributed to Russians who were said to have arrived there during the Napoleonic Wars.

The story of the potato is also part of local lore: Around the beginning of the second half of the 18th century, a farmer from Štokravy in Austria is said to have brought potatoes to Stradouň in connection with the salt trade.

The Easter Tradition of Vodění Jidáše

The tradition of Vodění Jidáše in Stradouň is documented by eyewitnesses from the late 19th century onward. The Easter tradition includes rattling and processions on Thursday and Friday. On Saturday, a procession with Jidáš makes its way through Stradouň; after nine o’clock, it stops at every house and ends with the burning of Jidáš. The procession route runs for almost three kilometres through the town.

Each day has a different programme: Thursday and Friday are for rattling and processions, while Saturday is for the procession with Jidáš. Exact times can vary from year to year. If you specifically want to experience the tradition, check the dates for that year’s Easter celebrations in advance.

Landscape and Cycling Route

Stradouň lies in the broad valley of the Loučná. The Bětnický potok flows through the centre; alders, lindens, ash trees and oaks grow in abundance along its banks. The stream and its trees create a distinctive landscape feature in the town. The forested area is small, at about 5 ha, and concentrated on the eastern and northern edges of the town. The tree-lined stream and the limited woodland on the outskirts describe two different scales of the landscape.

Regional cycling route 4192 runs from Stradouň via Vraclav to Vysoké Mýto; this section is 9.4 km long. By contrast, the procession with Jidáš through Stradouň covers almost three kilometres. The two distances refer to different activities: the regional cycling route and the local Easter procession. Check the signs and road conditions before setting out.

Discover more destinations: Helvíkovice, Damníkov, Zámrsk, Dlouhoňovice, Kosořín, Třebovice, Horní Morava, Brandýs Nad Orlicí

Go to the regional travel overview: Ústí nad Orlicí District.