Zwodau Between History and Water

Zwodau (Svatava) brings together several distinct points of interest for a stay: local church history, a memorial site relating to the history of the camp, and the river and lake. These subjects offer different perspectives on the town. The church tells of religious community life, the memorial keeps in view the history of a women's concentration camp, while the Svatava River and Medard Lake reveal a water-shaped side of the area. If you are looking for hotels in Zwodau, you can use these themes to consider which aspects matter most to your travel plans.

Church, Local History and Remembrance

The church and rectory are a prominent landmark in Svatava. In 1908, residents began fundraising for the construction of the Church of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary. It was consecrated on October 26, 1924. These two dates provide a timeline for the church's history: 1908 marks the beginning of the community's efforts, while 1924 marks the day of its consecration. The story of the church's construction can thus be viewed both through the residents' initiative and through the later religious milestone.

Another memorial site is dedicated to the women's concentration camp. The memorial commemorates a camp that existed in Svatava from 1943 to 1945 as a subcamp of Flossenbürg camp. The foundations of former barracks are marked on the site. The memorial also includes a sculpture of a veiled female figure, created in 1963 by Daniela Vodáková-Vinopalová. The camp's history, the marked foundations and the sculpture each offer a different perspective: they connect the memory of the camp with visible traces of the site's former use and a later work of art.

The Hernych adit in Čistá u Svatavy is also a cultural monument. This means that, alongside the church and memorial site, the area's cultural heritage includes another distinct point of interest. Those interested in cultural monuments can keep these different subjects separate when exploring the area's history, rather than reducing them to a single story.

River and Medard Lake

The Svatava River flows through Svatava. Its meanders, clear water and lush riverside vegetation make it an attraction for visitors. Alongside the historic sites, it offers a nature-focused subject shaped by the character of the river and its banks.

Medard Lake was formed from the reclaimed former Libík–Medard open-pit mine and lies within the cadastral area of Svatava. Its creation links today's body of water with the mine's former use. The lake offers opportunities for active recreation.

When planning your stay, a simple comparison may help: if you are mainly interested in architecture and history, the church, memorial and cultural monument take center stage. If you would rather focus on bodies of water and scenery, the Svatava River and Medard Lake are the relevant subjects. This lets you sort out your interests before looking for hotels in Zwodau and define the focus of your trip more clearly.

Discover more destinations: Wintersgrün, Frühbuß, Schwaderbach, Schaben, Königswerth, Silberbach, Katzengrün, Unterreichenau

Return to the regional travel overview: Falkenau an der Eger District.