In Svitavy, urban history, museum themes and nature observation come together as different interests for visitors. You can discover historic buildings and places of remembrance, visit exhibitions on regional culture and special topics, or explore paths around the ponds. When planning your visit, it is worth considering what appeals to you: a walk around the town, a museum visit with hands-on activities, or time in the recreational area.

Discover the town’s history on foot

The Svitavy heritage trail can be walked in less than two hours. It leads across the main square and through old streets, past reminders of the town’s former prosperity from the textile industry, the manufacturers’ residential villas and garden parks. The route thus gives an overview of different aspects of the town’s history without requiring a full-day hike.

The Ottendorferův dům is a historic building with a story of its own: it opened as a library and reading room in 1892, funded entirely by benefactor Oswald Ottendorfer. Elsewhere, St. Giles Church, with its preserved original interior, recalls the history of religious architecture. Its features include the Chapel of St. Nicholas, the Marian Chapel, altars and a pulpit.

The memorial to Oskar Schindler in front of his birthplace represents Svitavy as a city of three nationalities: Czechs, Germans and Jews. Its inscription commemorates the lives saved during the Holocaust. The exhibition “Hledání hvězdy Davidovy” (In Search of the Star of David) tells the story of Oskar and Emilie Schindler, who saved 1,200 persecuted Jews during the Second World War. The memorial and exhibition thus address different aspects of remembrance.

Museums with regional and special-interest themes

The Svitavy City Museum and Gallery focuses its collecting, exhibition and educational work primarily on regional history, fine arts, crafts and the folk traditions of the Hřebečsko region. Visitors interested in different forms of cultural heritage will find topics here that reach beyond the history of individual buildings.

The “Historie praní” (History of Washing) exhibition offers a hands-on glimpse into everyday history: in a washhouse, visitors can try washing on a washboard and mangling laundry with a historic mangle. The Esperanto Museum has a different focus. It documents the origins and history of the Esperanto movement in the Czech Republic and abroad, shows the language’s varied practical uses today, and pays particular attention to Esperanto activities in the Svitavy region.

Ponds, observation points and paths in the countryside

The educational trail to the sources of the Svitava runs through the recreational area around Svitavy’s two largest ponds, Rosnička and Dolní rybník. This popular area connects the ponds with information about their biology, ecology and history, life in the forest, and the source area of the Svitava. The birdwatching station offers a good vantage point for observing birds, particularly in the far end of the ponds, where reeds, cattails, reed canary grass and sedges grow.

For a cycling activity, the Brand Forest Recreation Area offers a 12-kilometre route with an easy elevation profile that children can manage without difficulty. Sváťova zážitková cesta offers a different kind of outdoor experience: in its story-based adventure, visitors can free the Swan Princess or take part in tournaments featuring board games and marbles. The Stezka příběhů lesa pod Sluneční Strání uses information panels to introduce the animals and plants visitors may encounter on the Javornický hřeben.

The heritage trail gives an estimated walking time, while the Brand cycling route is described by its length and elevation profile. This lets you choose planned activities by mode of travel and duration without combining them into a single route. For a specific visit, it is advisable to check the latest information from each venue, especially about exhibitions and leisure programmes.

Discover more destinations: Vrážné, Sedliště, Mladějov Na Moravě, Mikuleč, Policka, Pohledy, Koruna, Pustá Rybná.

Go to the wider travel overview: Okres Svitavy.