Horní Staňkov: Castle, Chapel and Trails

Horní Staňkov combines architectural history, a chapel story shaped by personal events, and a variety of routes for walking and cycling. The castle offers an architectural perspective on the town; the Chapel of St. Hildegard is associated with Hilda and the story of its dedication. There is also a red-marked hiking trail, cycling route 2031, and the Velhartice educational trail in the surrounding area. When planning your trip, it is worth considering these features on their own terms: the buildings by their form and history, and the routes by their destinations and courses.

The Castle and Its Design

Horní Staňkov Castle was built in the mid-18th century. It is a simple, single-storey rectangular building with a hipped roof, a polygonal turret, and adjoining farm buildings. A hipped roof slopes on all sides; polygonal describes a shape with several sides. These terms describe different parts of the building: the first refers to the roof, the second to the turret, while single-storey and rectangular describe the main structure. Anyone interested in historic architecture can consider the construction period alongside these clearly defined features. The castle thus combines a historical context with specific architectural characteristics.

Chapel of St. Hildegard

The Chapel of St. Hildegard was built in the late 19th century following the premature death of Hilda, the 18-year-old daughter of JUDr. Gustav Schreiner, and was dedicated to St. Hildegard. Lesy České republiky rebuilt the chapel using historical photographs. An information board and outdoor seating were installed beside the chapel. Unlike the castle, which is described in terms of its architectural design, the chapel is also characterized by the circumstances of its construction, its dedication, and its reconstruction based on photographs. The two sites date from different centuries: the castle is from the mid-18th century, while the chapel is from the late 19th century.

Hiking and Cycling

The red-marked hiking trail climbs to the Chapel of St. Hildegard and runs through Horní Staňkov and Svatobor to Sušice. Trail markings and conditions may change; check the current markings and route before setting out. Cycling route 2031 connects Velhartice, Horní Staňkov, Cihelna, Svojšice, Odolenov, and Sušice over 12 km. The two routes can be distinguished by their different planning features: for the hiking trail, the markings, the chapel as a destination, and the route are important; for the cycling route, the route number, sequence of places, and total distance are key. This lets you compare the options described according to your preferred activity and the relevant route details.

An Educational Trail in the Surrounding Area

In the wider area around Horní Staňkov, the Velhartice educational trail follows a stream along the boundary of the Borek Nature Reserve. The stream and reserve boundary give this educational trail a distinct connection to the landscape; by contrast, the Chapel is the named destination of the red-marked hiking trail. When comparing hiking options, you can therefore choose between a route with a historic destination and an educational trail that follows the edge of a nature reserve. Together with the cycling route, these offer different points of interest for a trip: architectural history, the chapel’s history, hiking, and cycling.

Discover more destinations: Bukovník, Bezděkov U Klatov, Poleň, Lomec, Branickov, Hnacov, Hejná, Lesisov

For the regional travel overview: Klatovy District.