A cycling route runs through Mastník, and a 26.5-metre-high observation tower stands on Pekelný kopec. Along with the bust of the poet Jan Zahradníček and a Baroque chapel, these offer several tangible ways to explore the place: cycling, views and cultural history. If you’re looking for a holiday apartment for your stay, you can plan your visit to Mastník around these local themes. This makes it easier to decide in advance whether you’d rather spend your time on a cycling trip, at the tower or exploring the town’s history.

Cycling, trails and the observation tower

Hiking and cycling trails run through Mastník. A section of the Jihlava–Třebíč–Raabs cycling route also passes through the village. For a cycling trip from Třebíč, cycling route 5212 leads to the edge of Mastník; with a shortened route, you can then continue directly to the observation tower on Pekelný kopec. This direct onward ride is available only with the shortened route. Check the current route before setting out.

At 572 metres, Pekelný kopec is the highest point in Mastník. The observation tower there is 26.5 metres high, and 125 steps lead to the platform. The number of steps gives you a practical idea of the climb to the platform, while the height describes the structure. Together, the two figures give a concrete sense of the tower as a destination on a cycling trip. Hiking and cycling trails are other options to consider when planning, and not every route needs to include the tower.

Mastník also has a public sports ground available for recreational use. This means that, in addition to the trails and observation tower, there is also a public recreation facility in the village.

Jan Zahradníček and local history

A bust of Jan Zahradníček is mounted on the façade of the house at Mastník 20. It marks Mastník as the birthplace of the poet, who lived from 1905 to 1960. Another cultural landmark is the Baroque Chapel of the Virgin Mary, dating from 1766. Together, the memorial to a poet and the religious building offer different points of connection to the local history.

Mastník was first mentioned in written records in 1407. Sixty-one years later, in 1468, the village was burned down during the wars between the Bohemian king George of Poděbrady and the Hungarian king Matthias Corvinus. Toward the end of the 15th century, Mastník became part of the Sádek estate. This sequence runs from the first written mention, through wartime destruction, to a later change in the village’s lordship.

Centuries later, graphite was mined in Mastník: extraction lasted from 1913 to 1921 and was discontinued because the deposit yielded too little. The area also has a dated connection to transport history. In 1870, the Okříšky–Znojmo railway line was built through the cadastral area of Mastník.

Discover more destinations: Kralice Nad Oslavou, Třebelovice, Rapotice, Výčapy, Lhánice, Petrůvky, Kožichovice, Pyšel.

For the broader travel overview: Třebíč District.