Stríbrná Skalice: Churches, Silver History and Nature

Stríbrná Skalice brings together traces of silver mining, Romanesque and Baroque buildings, and the Posázavské bučiny protected area. Its history is reflected in different layers of time: a Romanesque church with wall paintings, a Baroque church on the site of a former castle, and a town hall dating from the late 18th century. Archaeological castle remains and the protected woodland landscape add to this picture. Sacred architecture, civic architecture and nature thus offer different points of interest to help you choose your destination.

Churches and Historic Architectural Styles

The Church of St James in Rovná is Romanesque; its unique artistic features from the 12th and 13th centuries include Romanesque wall paintings inside. The Church of St John of Nepomuk is a Baroque church dating from 1730. It stands on the site of a former castle; remains of the original castle walls were used extensively in its construction. The foundations of a round tower or deep cellars have survived. These represent two distinct historical connections: the Romanesque features in Rovná and the reuse of castle walls in the construction of a later church. A guided tour of the interior of St James’s Church must be arranged in advance; St John of Nepomuk’s Church can be visited by prior arrangement. Confirm the arrangements and contact details for both visits before you travel.

The town hall complements the religious buildings as a civic structure: it was probably built around 1776–1778 and has a low, prismatic tower topped by an onion-shaped cupola. The prismatic tower shaft describes its angular structure, while the onion-shaped cupola forms its roof. Its estimated construction date is later than the 1730 construction of the Church of St John of Nepomuk. Remains of Hrad Castle lie on a prominent hill in Stríbrná Skalice; the site is an important archaeological findspot.

Silver Mining Through Time

The development of Stríbrná Skalice was linked to silver mining in the 15th and 16th centuries. The silver deposits near Stríbrná Skalice were exhausted at the beginning of the 18th century, and mining eventually came to an end. The time gap between the town’s development being linked to mining and its eventual end helps put this history into context.

Posázavské bučiny and Nature

Posázavské bučiny is a Natura 2000 site of European importance. It covers 154.4442 hectares and has the code CZ0210028. Mount Baba is home to the largest known site in Central Bohemia of the one-flowered melick grass (Melica uniflora). The area figure indicates the scale of the protected site, while the location on Mount Baba adds a botanical highlight.

The protected area extends above the holiday settlement of Pyskočely and is freely accessible via forest paths. Conservation measures or forestry work may affect access, so check the situation before your visit.

A Hiking Option

A half-day hike from Sázavský klášter to Stríbrná Skalice follows both marked and unmarked paths. This gives you a specific hiking option to consider when planning your time, one that does not rely exclusively on marked paths. Check the local route and conditions before setting off, as route descriptions may change.

Discover more destinations: Křížkový Újezdec, Květnice, Měšice, Brázdim, Předboj, Zlonín, Kostelec Nad Cernými Lesy, Zapy

For the broader travel overview: Okres Praha-Východ.