Žďár: Folk Architecture, Chapel and Rock Houses

Those interested in historic village architecture and how it fits into the village setting will find several specific points of interest in Žďár: the Chapel of the Holy Trinity, the village conservation area and the so-called “Skalní domy” (rock houses). Together, they reveal different aspects of the village’s history—from a building on the village square to a view of the gorge leading to Dolní Žďár. The destination therefore offers a focus on architectural history, folk architecture and a specific connection to a named hiking trail.

The Chapel of the Holy Trinity and the hiking trail

The Chapel of the Holy Trinity stands in the upper part of Žďár, on the village square. It was built in 1784 at the community’s expense. The building is rectangular, with a semicircular end. The chapel underwent extensive restoration in the early 1990s and was then reconsecrated. Its date and architectural form offer two distinct points of reference: the year 1784 marks when it was built, while its form describes the structure. The restoration and reconsecration mark a later chapter in the chapel’s history.

The red-marked Máchova cesta E10 hiking trail passes right by the chapel. This brings a specific trail connection and the building on the village square together in one place. For travelers interested in hiking as well as local history, it provides a precise connection between a named trail and a historic building.

Folk architecture and village layout

Since 1995, the cottages of Žďár and the village square have formed a village conservation area. Žďár is also considered a unique example of 18th- and 19th-century folk architecture. These two descriptions operate at different scales: one characterizes Žďár as a village, while the conservation area covers the cottages and the village square. The chapel stands on the square. This brings together the architectural character of the entire village and a more narrowly defined heritage area in one specific place.

An old stone lane connects the upper and lower parts of Žďár. This identifies a specific connection within the village, alongside the square and its buildings. Anyone interested in the village’s layout can see the lane as a spatial link between its two parts.

The Skalní domy and the gorge

The so-called “Skalní domy” (rock houses) are among Žďár’s noteworthy sights. They can be seen while walking through the deep gorge from the village square towards Dolní Žďár. They are not freely accessible, as residents use them for storage and operational purposes. When planning your visit, it is therefore important to distinguish between visibility and access: the houses can be seen along this passage, but their interiors are not freely accessible.

The chapel and the Skalní domy have different connections to the route. The red-marked Máchova cesta E10 passes right by the chapel, while the houses are visible when walking through the gorge towards Dolní Žďár. This distinction shows whether a hiking trail passes directly alongside a building or whether a sight can be seen during a particular stretch of the walk.

Historical reference in Dolní Žďár

An account dated November 2, 1865, describes a cast-iron cross on a stone pedestal by the village pond in Dolní Žďár.

Discover more destinations: Kunratice U Cvikova, Tachov, Beškov, Svor, Tuhan, Chotovice U Nového Boru, Radeč, Ralsko.

For the broader travel overview: Okres Česká Lípa.