Strání brings together the carnival tradition of the “Pod šable” sword dance, the glassmaking heritage of Květná and the forests around nearby Velká Javořina mountain. Culture and landscape are two distinct reasons to include the area in your travel plans. If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Strání, you can first decide whether you want your stay to focus more on Fašank and glassmaking, or on forest trails and mountain scenery.
The “Pod šable” Sword Dance
The famous “Pod šable” sword dance is performed during Fašank in Strání. Usually, five men dance with wooden swords, while a Gazda leads the procession with a wooden spit. One of the characteristic elements is “vytínání”: on the pretext of an offence, a dancer is ritually struck. The music also has a distinctive continuity: a relatively unchanged song pattern has been preserved in “Pod šable”.
A description published in 2019 by the Czech Ministry of Culture states that the sword dance tradition in Strání has been maintained without interruption for more than 200 years. In the Uherskobrodsko region, the tradition of sword dances associated with carnival processions has survived in only three municipalities; Strání is one of them. The custom therefore reflects both a local expression and a regional tradition.
Glassmaking History in Květná
The Sklárna Květná 1794 Museum in Strání–Květná presents the history and art of glassmaking. The glassworks was founded in 1794 and is among the oldest in the Czech Republic. Visitors can watch traditional techniques of handcrafting glass there.
Advance reservations are required for guided tours, preferably at least one day ahead. They take place only in the morning, in Czech, and last approximately 45 minutes. Check the visitor arrangements before your trip if you are planning such a tour.
Velká Javořina and its Landscape
Velká Javořina lies near Strání on the Moravian-Slovak border. At 970 metres, it is the highest mountain in the White Carpathians. The Javorina National Nature Reserve protects original broadleaf forests in the massif, especially species-rich beech and ravine forests. Near the summit, these forests have a primeval character.
Hiking trails to Velká Javořina lead from both Velká nad Veličkou and Strání–Květná. The return leg of the hiking route from Strání–Květná follows the green trail markers through Javorinský prales. Another named route, the Naučná stezka Květná educational trail, passes through forests and meadows below Velká Javořina.
The U Cicůrku spring is a mountain spring in the Květná district and can be reached via the yellow-marked Naučná stezka Květná educational trail. It is advisable to check the condition of the trail before your visit. This gives you several ways to explore nature: trails to the highest mountain in the White Carpathians, forest landscapes in the reserve and an educational trail that also leads to the spring.
Discover more destinations: Boršice U Blatnice, Hustenovice, Modrá, Tupesy, Hostějov, Komňa, Polešovice, Uherský Ostroh
For the broader travel overview: Okres Uherské Hradiště.
