In Horní Staňkov, an 18th-century castle, the Chapel of St. Hildegard and marked routes come together. When planning your visit, it is worth considering the cultural sights and the different route descriptions separately: each tells its own story and focuses on different things.
Castle and Chapel: Two Different Stories
Horní Staňkov Castle was built in the mid-18th century. It is a simple, rectangular, single-storey building with a hipped roof, a polygonal turret and adjoining outbuildings. A hipped roof also has sloping gable ends; together with the clear floor plan and turret, this makes for a distinctive architectural description. This makes it possible to identify the castle by its design without conflating its various features with the history of the chapel.
The Chapel of St. Hildegard has a different historical background. It was built in the late 19th century following the untimely death of Hilda, the 18-year-old daughter of JUDr. Gustav Schreiner, and dedicated to St. Hildegard. Lesy České republiky rebuilt the chapel using historical photographs. The photographs served as the basis for the reconstruction.
An information board and outdoor seating have been installed next to the chapel. Together, they provide both orientation on site and a place to stop and rest.
Hiking Trails and Cycling Route
A red-marked hiking trail climbs to the Chapel of St. Hildegard and runs through Horní Staňkov and Svatobor to Sušice. This makes both the chapel as a destination and the named places along the trail part of the route. Before setting out on a specific hike, it is advisable to check the current trail markings and conditions, as signs and trail conditions can change.
The municipal plan lists a 12 km route, cycling route 2031, via Velhartice, Horní Staňkov, Cihelna, Svojšice, Odolenov and Sušice. The sequence of named places and the total distance provide a different planning framework from the hiking trail description: that focuses on the climb to the chapel and the route through Horní Staňkov and Svatobor. If you plan to cycle the route, check its current alignment before setting out.
You can choose what to focus on based on the type of route described: the hiking trail leads to the chapel and continues through two named places, while the cycling route connects six places over 12 km. This lets you use the route information for your own planning without assuming that the hiking and cycling routes are connected simply because both mention Sušice.
The Velhartice educational trail also runs nearby, following a stream along the boundary of the Borek Nature Reserve. This description adds a connection to the landscape and protected area to the routes. If you include this educational trail in your plans, check the current signs and trail conditions beforehand.
Discover more destinations: Švihov U Klatov, Dlažov, Prasily, Kovčín, Strašín, Dlouhá Ves U Susice, Běhařov, Zborovy.
For the broader travel overview: Okres Klatovy.
