Valašská Polanka can be explored through a variety of highlights: hiking trails lead to the ridges of the Vizovické vrchy and the Javorníky, while the Senice shapes the valley. There are also local customs with recurring dates, and the town’s history can be traced through its church and several monuments. When planning your visit, it is worth considering the route you want to take separately from your preferred travel dates.
River Valley and Regional Trails
Valašská Polanka lies in the valley of the Senice River. The western part of its cadastral area lies at the foot of the Vizovické vrchy. The right bank of the Senice in Valašská Polanka belongs to the Javorníky and the Beskydy Protected Landscape Area. A road and railway line connecting Moravia with Slovakia also pass through the town.
Marked hiking trails lead from Valašská Polanka to the ridges of the Vizovické vrchy and eastwards to the Javorníky border ridge. The surrounding area is suitable for easy hikes, mountain biking, and cross-country skiing in winter. A shorter route is the walk to the swing at Sulačov: it can start at the Church of St John the Baptist and is about 2 km long. The route is unmarked and unsuitable for strollers.
Sulačov offers views across the Senice valley towards Vsetín, as well as of the Javorníky and the Vizovické vrchy. How far you can see depends on the weather. If you are interested in a longer themed trail, the Vartovna Educational Trail offers a 7 km route with seven stops. It introduces visitors to the sights and history of Seninka, Valašská Polanka, and other places along the route.
Cycling can also be combined with the river landscape: a ride on the BEVLAVA cycle path starts in Valašská Polanka and follows the Senice towards Prlov. Signage and conditions may change; check the current route and conditions before setting out.
Traditions Throughout the Year
The Hody celebrations in Valašská Polanka traditionally take place every year on the third weekend in October. They commemorate the consecration of the local church in 1778; the exact event dates may vary from year to year. The parish pilgrimage is celebrated on the Sunday closest to 24 June. Its exact calendar date therefore changes each year.
Another event for hiking enthusiasts is the traditional summer hike Pochod okolo Polanky, associated with 5 July. It passes through Valašská Polanka and its surroundings and features beautiful views and several refreshment stops. The date and route may vary each year. If you would like to plan your trip around one of the events, check the exact dates in advance.
The tradition of starovalašská dožatá is also still alive in Valašská Polanka. The Valašská svatba is another part of its cultural history: residents of Valašská Polanka and Lužná presented this tradition at ethnographic exhibitions in Vsetín in 1892 and Prague in 1895.
Church and Local History
The Church of St John the Baptist was consecrated in 1778. In front of it stands a stone cross from 1779 bearing the coat of arms of the Counts of Illésházy. It is listed as a cultural monument; its restoration was completed in 2000. Inside the church is a small bell from 1720, known as the umíráček. It probably once belonged to a bell tower shown on old maps of Polanka.
Above the railway station stands a wooden cross erected in 1948. At the turn of the century, the children of the Mikušek couple, who worked as pasekáři, restored the cross in their memory. Two other monuments commemorate the fallen: the monument to the victims of the First World War dates from 1934, and the one to those who fell in the Second World War from 1947.
Nature and a Coffee Break
The Neratov pond is nearby. It contains a preserved wetland ecosystem inhabited by rare and specially protected aquatic invertebrates and amphibians. A local coffee roastery gives visitors the opportunity to stop for a coffee. As local offerings may change, it is best to check before your visit.
Discover more destinations: Francova Lhota, Velké Karlovice, Choryně, Střelná, Leskovec, Zubří, Valasska Bystrice, Przno
See the overview of destinations in the wider area: Okres Vsetín.
