Údrnice – Discover History and Landscape

Údrnice lies in a flat valley in the southwestern part of the Jičín Region. To the east and northeast, the gentle rise of Na Vrchách shelters the village. Historic buildings, archaeological traces, and the cultural landscape give your stay a range of thematic focuses. Plan your trip around your interests, and you’ll find aspects of local history as well as leisure opportunities in Údrnice.

Village Center and Historic Buildings

Since the 9th century, the village center has been located around St. Martin’s Church. The foundations of the parish Church of St. Martin were laid at the beginning of the second half of the 14th century. These details refer to different points in time: the first places the village center in the church’s vicinity, while the second dates the foundations. St. Martin’s Church is a protected monument.

Zlivštejn and Hrádek

The archaeological site of Zlivštejn, also called Hrádek, lies west of Údrnice, above the village’s western edge. What remains is a nearly circular central mound, surrounded by a ditch and a rampart up to 3 meters high. An exceptionally well-preserved aristocratic estate, Zlivštejn belongs to a type between a fortified manor and a castle. This classification describes an intermediate form rather than equating the estate with either one of these two forms.

The church and Zlivštejn represent different historical connections: for the church, the early importance of the village center and the later date of the foundations are significant; Zlivštejn is characterized by its surviving form and its classification as an intermediate type between a fortified manor and a castle.

Plužina and the Landscape

The historic Plužina field system is being reconstructed north of Údrnice. It consists of long, narrow fields, originally dating from the Middle Ages, that follow the shape of the slope. Plužina remains an important element of erosion control to this day. Here, historic land division meets a landscape feature that continues to serve a relevant purpose.

Crafts and Local Customs

Flax was traditionally processed and linen produced in Údrnice. These crafts add an everyday aspect to the history of the buildings and landscape. Local customs maintained over generations included wedding and baptismal traditions. Thus, the history of the village encompasses not only the church, archaeological site, and field system, but also crafts and community traditions.

Leisure and Cycling Route

Údrnice has a playground, a children’s play area, and a swimming pool for leisure activities. Facilities and access conditions may change, so check the current terms of use before your visit. This lets you plan your leisure activities according to the conditions in effect at the time.

International Cycle Route No. 14 (Berlin–Prague) passes through Údrnice and is marked both on the ground and on maps. Having both forms of guidance can be helpful when planning a cycling trip. As route markings can change, check the current signage before setting out.

Discover more destinations: Kněžnice, Červená Třemešná, Hořice V Podkrkonoší, Ostroměř, Prachov, Budčeves, Valdice, Milovice U Hořic.

For the overview of the wider area: Jičín District.