Dolní Žďár: Cycling Routes and Local History

Dolní Žďár and Horní Lhota lie in the Nežárka basin. Several cycling routes pass through Dolní Žďár: the Nežárka Cycle Path, which follows the river, the Partnerství Route and a shorter cycling excursion. The chapel, wayside shrine and local history offer another focus. When planning, both the route length and your interest in historic buildings may therefore play a role.

Cycling: Different Route Lengths

The Nežárka Cycle Path is 53 kilometres long and follows the river from the confluence of the Kamenice and Žirovnice rivers to its mouth at the Lužnice. Along the way, it runs from Horní Žďár through Dolní Žďár to Horní Lhota. This places the route within the context of a longer river journey; at the same time, the sequence of places it passes includes the stretch through Dolní Žďár. The Nežárka Cycle Path is suitable for trekking bikes. Check local conditions before setting out.

The 61-kilometre Partnerství Route also passes through Dolní Žďár. A much shorter option is the 19-kilometre cycling excursion “Jindřichův Hradec–Horní Pěna–Dolní Pěna,” which also runs through the village. It is designed as a family excursion with an easy level of physical difficulty. This gives you several total distances to compare: the 19-kilometre excursion is the shorter option compared with the 53- and 61-kilometre routes; the easy difficulty rating applies to this family excursion.

The Nežárka and the Weir

The Nežárka also raises a practical consideration for river trips in Dolní Žďár. The weir is partly navigable at higher flows; it is possible to portage along the right bank. A technical catalogue, last updated on 23 November 2011, lists these conditions. As navigability explicitly depends on the flow, check conditions before setting out. This information concerns river trips and should be distinguished from the choice of cycling routes.

Local History and Buildings

Dolní Žďár was first documented in 1211. A later historical milestone is recorded for Horní Lhota: in 1869, the village, formerly also known as Ovesná, became a settlement within the municipality of Dolní Žďár. The dates thus refer to different points in local history: the first documentary mention of Dolní Žďár and Horní Lhota’s later relationship with the municipality.

The Chapel of Saint Teresa of Ávila stands in Dolní Žďár, by the Nežárka, and has a bell tower. Its style is described as vernacular Historicist. Services are occasionally held in the chapel. If you would like to attend, check the date in advance.

A wayside shrine dating from the 17th century is another historic building in Dolní Žďár. Dolní mlýn (Lower Mill) is also part of the village’s history: a combined mill and bakery operation is documented there, and the mill machinery survives as a remnant. The site is listed as inaccessible. Thus, alongside the cycling routes, the focus also includes the village’s architectural and historical heritage, though the inaccessible mill should not be planned as a sightseeing destination.

Discover more destinations: Vydří, Lutová, Nová Hlína, Sedlo, Jarosov Nad Nezarkou, Kačlehy, Kunžak, Polště.

For the broader travel overview: Jindřichův Hradec District.