The Late Gothic Sudkův Důl fortress and the Josafatské Valley show two different sides of Sudkův Důl: architectural history and landscape. This clear distinction is useful when planning your trip. You can decide whether the development of a seat of the lower nobility and its farm buildings, or the valley along the Bělá, should shape your stay more. If you are looking for a holiday apartment for a trip that combines culture and nature, these themes offer a practical guide to your interests.
The fortress: a tower stronghold and historic ensemble
The Sudkův Důl fortress is a Late Gothic tower stronghold dating from around the turn of the 15th and 16th centuries. Its Late Gothic tower was later converted into a granary and then preserved without any significant structural changes. The building therefore tells not only of its origins, but also of its later use. The fortress and its farmyard form a uniquely preserved ensemble of buildings and archaeological finds. It illustrates the typical development of a seat of the lower nobility from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. The historical context thus extends beyond the tower itself: the farmyard and finds are also part of the story.
Conversion and visits by prior arrangement
The changes to the complex also include a stable building from 1867, converted into a cidery in 2016. Cidrerie Utopia is located in an adjoining farm building within the complex. Alongside the older architectural history, this also highlights the later conversion of a farm building. The fortress can be visited free of charge by prior arrangement. Visits to Cidrerie Utopia are also possible by prior arrangement. Arrange visiting times in advance if you plan to visit both places.
Chapel on the village square
A chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary, dating from around 1800, stands on the village square; directly in front of it is a cast-iron cross. This is a different kind of site from the fortress: here, a single religious building stands on the village square, while the tower stronghold forms an ensemble with the farmyard. This contrast broadens the view of local history from the noble residence to another historic focal point in the village.
The Josafatské Valley and its natural environment
The Josafatské Valley stretches for about 8 km along the Bělá and connects the districts of Sudkův Důl, Bezděčín and Údolí. The most interesting section lies between Nové Dvory and Sudkův Důl and is about 4 km long. The two figures refer to different things: around 8 km describes the valley, while around 4 km refers to the highlighted section. This distinguishes the extent of the landscape area from the length of this particularly noteworthy part.
The wooded slopes of the Josafatské Valley offer plenty of forest fruits; numerous protected plants grow in the herb layer, especially the spring primrose. The nature theme thus encompasses both the course of the valley along the Bělá and the vegetation on its slopes. If you would rather focus your stay on the landscape than on architectural history, these different features offer practical points to help you decide.
Discover more destinations: Vlásenice-Drbohlavy, Cetoraz, Zlátenka, Mladé Bříště, Sedlice, Křešín, Těmice, Hribeci
For the overarching travel overview: Pelhřimov District.
