On the outskirts of Maňovice, the artificially sculpted Maňovický Dragon rises from a rock. In the village square stand a hexagonal chapel and a Baroque granite wayside shrine. There is also an easy nature trail, a 3.5-kilometre circular route through Maňovice and past the dragon to Prasecký Forest. Here, you can encounter both small religious structures and a specific route through the village and its surroundings.

The Maňovický Dragon and its history

The Maňovický Dragon was created by shaping a stone that protruded from a bend in the road to Pačejov. Its history is marked by two dates: the dragon was completed and consecrated in 1905. In 1926, a stone surround with a wrought-iron fence was built around the dragon’s head. The figure is therefore not only a striking feature on the outskirts of the village, but also a work with a documented history of its creation and design.

A different explanation is part of local legend: the stone dragon is said to have once lived in the rocks above the village. According to the story, a witch turned it to stone; later, a consecrated cross was placed in its head. As a legend, this account tells of a transformation and a religious symbol. It sits alongside the historical information about the dragon’s completion and enclosure, without being confused with it.

The chapel and Boží muka

The Chapel of St Bartholomew stands in the village square. Its hexagonal floor plan and pyramidal roof give the small building a clear geometric form. Architecturally, it belongs to vernacular religious architecture from around the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries. Together with the nearby Boží muka, it forms a valuable group of buildings—two distinct small structures that shape the village square and its surroundings.

The Boží muka in Maňovice is a Baroque column wayside shrine made of local granite and consists of seven parts. It was erected in 1713; its construction is probably connected with a plague epidemic. It stands on a specially fenced, park-like plot in front of the village chapel and an old cellar. When looking at both types of structure, note their different features: the chapel is distinguished by its hexagonal shape and roof, while the shrine stands out for its granite material and seven-part construction.

The nature trail as an easy circular route

The Maňovice Nature Trail begins at a crossroads in the southern part of Maňovice and ends there as well. The start and finish are therefore at the same point; the route is circular. At 3.5 kilometres long and graded as an easy nature trail, it offers a manageable distance if you would also like to explore the village on foot.

The route leads from Maňovice past the Maňovický Dragon and through Prasecký Forest before returning to Maňovice. The dragon offers two perspectives: it is both a sculpted work with its own history and a point along the nature trail. If you are mainly interested in the small religious buildings, you will find the chapel in the village square and the shrine nearby; if you would rather go for a walk, you can follow the easy nature trail. These two options give your stay in Maňovice a clear cultural or walking focus.

Discover more destinations: Lesisov, Dražovice, Předslav, Lomec, Horská Kvilda, Dlažov, Nezdice Na Sumave, Žihobce.

For the overview of the wider area: Klatovy District.