Svitavy: Cultural History and Nature by the Ponds

Svitavy offers different ways to explore its history and landscape: exhibitions focus on regional traditions, art and poignant historical themes; buildings and monuments throughout the city recall earlier chapters. Around the ponds, you can enjoy wildlife watching and outdoor activities. You can shape your stay around whichever interests you most.

Museums and Exhibitions in Svitavy

The Svitavy City Museum and Gallery focuses its collection, exhibition and educational work primarily on regional history, visual arts, crafts and the folk traditions of the Hřebečsko region. The “History of Washing” exhibition brings historical laundry work to life: in a washhouse, visitors can try washing on a washboard and working laundry through a historical mangle.

The Esperanto Museum traces the origins and history of the Esperanto movement in the Czech Republic and abroad, through to its diverse practical uses today. Particular attention is given to Esperanto activities in the Svitavy region. The “Searching for the Star of David” exhibition tells the story of Oskar and Emilie Schindler, who saved 1,200 persecuted Jews during the Second World War. These distinct subjects sit side by side: regional culture, an international language movement, and the remembrance of persecution and rescue.

City History Along Walking Routes and at Monuments

The Svitavy heritage trail leads across the main square and through old lanes. Along the way, you will encounter reminders of the city’s former prosperity from the textile industry, the manufacturers’ residential villas and garden parks. The route takes less than two hours to walk. The Ottendorfer House adds to this view of the city’s history: it opened in 1892 as a library and reading room; the benefactor Oswald Ottendorfer financed its construction in full.

A monument to Oskar Schindler stands in front of his birthplace. It symbolizes Svitavy as a city of three nationalities: Czechs, Germans and Jews. The inscription commemorates the saving of lives during the Holocaust. The site and the “Searching for the Star of David” exhibition offer different perspectives: the monument keeps the memory present in the cityscape, while the exhibition tells the story of Oskar and Emilie Schindler.

Ponds, Forest and Outdoor Activities

The educational trail to the sources of the Svitava runs through the recreational area around Rosnička and Dolní rybník, the two largest ponds in Svitavy. The area is described as an attractive and heavily visited recreational destination. The trail explores the biology, ecology and history of the ponds, life in the forest and the source area of the Svitava. An ornithological observation point offers a good vantage point for birdwatching, especially over the far ends of the ponds, with their reeds, cattails, manna grass and sedges.

For a cycling trip, the Brand forest recreation area offers a twelve-kilometre route with an easy elevation profile that children can manage without difficulty. Sváťova Adventure Trail, by contrast, is a story-driven adventure: visitors can free the Swan Princess or take part in tournaments featuring board games and marbles. The options described range from wildlife watching and cycling to playful experiences.

Discover more destinations: Březinky, Pustá Rybná, Trpín, Oldris, Sloupnice, Janůvky, Radiměř, Bystré U Poličky

For the overview of the wider area: Svitavy District.