In Horní Ves, trails, waterways and historical traces provide practical points of reference for a visit. The Lísek Nature Trail runs through municipal forests and follows a named route with distinctive waypoints. There is also a blue hiking trail and a cycling route, each crossing the area in a different way. The history of the village is also reflected in various forms—from a memorial to a vanished fortress.
Lísek Nature Trail: Route and Facilities
The Lísek Nature Trail is located in the municipal forests of Horní Ves. It starts in Lísek on Cycle Route No. 1213, crosses the Jihlava River and a railway crossing, and ends at a spring above the railway line. The starting point, water crossing, railway crossing and spring help you follow the route. Check the signs and access conditions before your visit, as both may change.
At the Jihlávka, the nature trail has a fire pit and a pavilion; bicycles can be parked there safely. Check on site whether the fire pit, pavilion and bicycle parking are available. If you are planning a cycling trip, the nature trail entrance in Lísek on Cycle Route No. 1213 is a useful point of reference. The rest of the nature trail continues across the Jihlava River to the spring above the railway line.
Distinguishing the Hiking Trail from the Cycling Route
Blue Hiking Trail No. 1260 passes through the administrative area of Horní Ves. It runs from Horní Cerekev through Horní Ves to Svatá Kateřina. The established Cycle Route No. 1213 also passes through the administrative area, explicitly runs through the village centre, and continues along a local access road to the municipality of Jihlávka.
These different geographical details are useful when comparing the routes: the sequence of villages is specified for the hiking trail, while the cycling route is described as passing through the village centre and continuing to Jihlávka. Check the current signs for the relevant route before setting out. This will help you plan for the appropriate route without confusing the hiking trail with the cycling route.
Waterways and Protected Area
The Jihlava River crosses the centre of the built-up area of Horní Ves. By contrast, the fire pit and pavilion on the nature trail are located at the Jihlávka. The names of the two waterways refer to different features in the descriptions of the village and the nature trail.
The Nový rybník Nature Reserve is located in the area of Horní Ves. Current access rules may vary, so check the rules in force before visiting. The Geopark Vysočina is another point of reference: part of the cadastral area of Horní Ves belongs to this geopark. For the purposes of locating it, it is specifically this part of the cadastral area that matters.
Monuments and Traces of Local History
The memorial to the victims of the First World War is a locally significant and historically valuable monument in Horní Ves. Another cultural trace is the sculpture Anděl strážný. The artist, woodcarver and sculptor Jan Rázek from Javornice carved it for the municipality of Horní Ves.
The vanished Horní hrad fortress was located near Horní Ves. It survives primarily as a historical and topographical trace; visible remains are limited. The settlement below the fortress was given the name Horní Ves. These historical references can therefore be understood in different ways: as a memorial to the victims of the First World War, a sculpture created for the municipality, and a fortress of which only limited visible remains survive.
Those exploring the trails and historical sites will find various starting points for planning a visit to Horní Ves: the nature trail and its route to the spring, the two routes with their respective described courses, and several specific traces of local history. Choose what to focus on based on whether you are interested in the nature trail, the course of a hiking or cycling route, or the historical references.
Discover more destinations: Zmišovice, Svépravice, Bohdalín, Kaliště U Humpolce, Černovice, Píšť, Božejov, Proseč Pod Křemešníkem
For the overview of the wider area: Pelhřimov District.
