Janůvky lies in a valley beneath wooded slopes and the peaks of the Svitavská vrchovina. The village has 40 inhabitants and is located southwest of Moravská Třebová and northwest of Jevíčko. The Janůvecké čihadlo forest stretches north of Janůvky. This location combines a village-scale setting with clearly identified landscape features. When choosing your destination, you can consider two perspectives side by side: local history and the wooded surroundings, with their cycling and hiking routes.
A history in several stages
Janůvky was founded during the German colonization. The first written reference dates from 1365; its affiliation with the Třebová estate is also recorded for 1365. In 1408, the Lords of Kunštát granted Janůvky the right of reversion. The founding context, first written reference, and subsequent legal development are distinct historical stages; the village’s history therefore cannot be reduced to any one of these dates. If you are interested in the village’s development, this sequence offers a starting point, from the settlement context to a specific legal connection.
Work and religious connections
Historically, the people of Janůvky earned their living, among other things, from agriculture and worked in wage weaving. Lignite, fireclay, and slate were mined in the area around Janůvky from the mid-19th century until the beginning of the 20th century. The former bell tower stood further west, next to a shaft where fireclay was extracted. This connects the village’s history with a specific location associated with resource extraction. A bell tower was built in 2013 to replace an earlier one, which had probably already been destroyed during the Second World War.
School and community life
The school and community life also offer specific points of reference. In both 1880 and 1900, Janůvky had a one-class primary school; the former school building now serves as the municipal office. This makes it possible to distinguish over time between the building’s former educational function and its current municipal use. Janůvky also belongs to the Křenov parish. A fund association for a chapel dedicated to Saint Gotthard and the Seven Holy Plague Patrons is recorded in Janůvky for 1904. The parish affiliation and the dated chapel reference show two different facets of the village’s religious history.
Cycling and hiking routes
Three different pointers may be useful for days spent cycling or hiking. A marked local cycle route passes through Janůvky; check on site before setting out whether it is still marked. A designated cycling tour is titled “Janůvky přes Peklo a Hřebeč.” In addition, between Janůvky and Rudná, a red-marked hiking trail branches off from the Hřebečský hřbet ridge. As the route description dates from 2010, you should also check the markings on site before setting out. When planning, distinguish between the cycle route through the village, the named cycling tour, and the described hiking trail along the ridge.
Discover more destinations: Pomezí, Trpín, Linhartice, Nedvezi, Vlčkov, Moravská Trebová, Koruna, Třebařov
For the broader travel overview: Svitavy District.
