The castle park, links to Sova and historic buildings shape Lukavec’s cultural identity. The town’s sights can be distinguished thematically from a longer route: the Sovova Educational Trail connects Lukavec with other stops in the region.
Castle Park and Antonín Sova
Lukavec Castle is surrounded by an extensive English-style park with ponds and a Neoclassical pavilion. The poet Antonín Sova grew up in this pavilion. He spent his childhood and youth in Lukavec and the surrounding countryside, and also attended primary school there.
The castle is a late Renaissance four-wing building with an arcaded courtyard, built on the site of an earlier Gothic fortress. The castle and park thus tell different parts of the story: the town’s architectural history and Sova’s biography.
Near the castle stands Hříbek, a two-storey, hexagonal Neoclassical pavilion built towards the end of the 18th century. It is located in the publicly accessible castle park. Its exhibition includes historical photographs and documents, as well as a near-exact replica of an Art Nouveau dress belonging to Marie, Sova’s wife.
The Antonín Sova Memorial House is also dedicated to the poet, with a permanent exhibition about his life and work. The memorial house was reconstructed and reopened to visitors in July 2004. The two exhibitions have different focuses: the memorial house centres on Sova and his work, while Hříbek’s historical artefacts and replica of Marie’s dress offer a glimpse into his personal circle.
Church, Heritage Zone and Cemetery
Originally Gothic, St. Wenceslas Church was converted into a larger Baroque church in 1765. Together with the neighbouring Gothic-Renaissance fortress, the Late Baroque rectory, the hospital and the Neo-Gothic tomb of the Lincker and Lilgenau families, it forms a heritage zone.
Another part of the town’s history can be discovered at the Jewish cemetery. It was established no later than before 1724 and has around 100 gravestones; the oldest surviving one dates from 1725. At the southeastern edge of the older section of the cemetery is a restored, simple stone mortuary. The cemetery is freely accessible. As with the castle park, check its current access conditions before visiting.
Stations of the Cross and Sovova Educational Trail
The Stations of the Cross run through the southwest of Lukavec, along a local road at the edge of the castle park. There are fourteen stations, ending at the Rochus wayside shrines, with benches along the route. During the full restoration in 2009, the original, slimmer granite columns were replaced with columns made of granite too, but of a more substantial design.
The brick-built, Baroque-style Rochus wayside shrines stand southwest of Lukavec in open countryside, on the site of a former Rochus chapel. Following their restoration in 2010, their niches were fitted with hardened glass panels bearing black printed text about the saints, Lukavec and the history of the building.
The Sovova Educational Trail leads from Pacov through the municipality of Bratřice and over Mount Stražiště to Lukavec, then continues to Načeradec and Velký Blaník. It is 12 km long, has four history-themed stops and takes approximately two to five hours. The route is suitable for walkers and cyclists. Check the current trail markings before setting off.
Discover more destinations: Ondřejov U Pelhřimova, Dubovice, Mysletín, Utechovice, Čáslavsko, Žirov, Zachotín, Žirovnice.
For the broader travel overview: Pelhřimov District.
