At the approximately 3 m high Poledník obelisk, at a certain time a ray of sunlight passes through an opening; the time is marked on the obelisk as a calendar. The red hiking route and cycle routes 6018 and 6119 run past the site.
Hiking Destinations and Rock Formations
The obelisk is about 3 km on foot from the Růžďka municipal office via unmarked local paths. The Klenov educational trail is 7 km long. These figures measure different things: for Poledník, the distance is from the municipal office; for Klenov, it is the length of the educational trail.
The Žaba rock formation is a tourist destination in the cadastral area of Růžďka and offers expansive views of the surrounding area. The route starts from the municipal office or the terminus, follows a local road to the Dušná guesthouse and then continues for about 1 km along a forest path. Conditions on the walking routes to Poledník and Žaba may vary; check the signs before setting out. The figures are not directly comparable: 3 km is the total distance to Poledník, while 1 km refers only to the forest-path section to Žaba.
Meadows and Natural Monuments
The Louky pod Štípou Natural Monument protects remnants of flower-rich meadows with orchids and specially protected plant species. Species found there include the military orchid, common spotted orchid, gladiolus and marsh helleborine.
The Růžděcký Vesník Natural Monument lies on the eastern edge of the settlement of the same name and protects a former juniper pasture on a slope among forests. Růžděcký Vesník also has flower-rich meadows with a large population of the common spotted orchid.
The Lúčky–Roveňky Natural Monument lies in the cadastral area of Růžďka, about 1 km below the village. It protects wet meadows and hillside springs with rare orchids and other rare wetland plants. Rare animals may also occur there: the small whiteface, blue emperor, red-eyed damselfly, common darter, common toad, yellow-bellied toad, fire salamander, common lizard, sand lizard and slow worm.
Church, Remembrance and Craftsmanship
The present-day Church of St Bartholomew was built in 1807. Its wooden high altar was made in 1891 by the School of Woodworking in Valašské Meziříčí; the altarpiece was painted in 1878 by the painter Schindler from Vsetín. The sequence of dates distinguishes the construction from the furnishings: the painting predates the high altar, and the church building is older than both.
A memorial in Růžďka, erected in 1927, commemorates the Protestants murdered in 1777. Knife-making is also part of the local history: Křivák knives in particular were among the most widespread forms of home-based work.
Getting There
Růžďka can be reached by bus from Vsetín and Valašské Meziříčí. It is also possible to travel from the nearest railway station in Bystřička. Check connections before travelling.
Discover more destinations: Karolinka, Liptál, Kladeruby, Huslenky, Halenkov, Francova Lhota, Oznice, Vsetín
For the wider travel overview: Vsetín District.
