Sviny: Village Square, Chapel and Blata Farmhouses

Sviny combines a historic village setting with opportunities to enjoy nature and outdoor activities in the surrounding area. In the village, the Chapel of St. Vojtěch, several Blata farmhouses and the circular Svinenská náves shape the scene; beyond the village, moorland and trails add to the picture.

Chapel and Farmhouse Architecture

The Chapel of St. Vojtěch is a detached, octagonal, masonry central-plan building with a polygonal bell dome and lantern. Its core is late Baroque and dates from the late 18th century; its present form was created following an extension in 1896. The chapel is a protected cultural monument.

The building comprises an entrance tower, a single nave with a flat ceiling and a three-sided presbytery. Its furnishings include a Baroque statue of Our Lady of Sorrows. Several imposing Blata farmhouses with richly decorated gables are associated with the tradition of Selské Baroko (rural Baroque). The granary at house No. 7 is also among the individual listed monuments in Sviny.

Village Square and Local History

Svinenská náves is large and spacious, and laid out in a circle. Two ponds add to the village square; its green spaces include lime and birch trees. A monument to those who fell in the First World War stands in the southern part, which is lined with lime trees. The historic municipal school building in Sviny was built in 1795.

Another place of remembrance is the Kerchůvek plague cemetery between Sviny and Kundratice. It was restored together with its chapel in 2008 and improved for tourism. Thus, the village’s history includes not only the chapel and farmhouses, but also places associated with different chapters of the past.

Borkovická blata in the Surrounding Area

In the wider area around Sviny, the Borkovická blata nature reserve protects a transitional peat bog in a basin. It contains remnants of peat-pine forests as well as characteristic flora and fauna. On areas where peat has been extracted, wetlands are regenerating, with protected plant and animal species and habitats of European importance.

The Borkovická Blata peatland covers about 900 hectares and lies between Sviny and the neighboring localities of Komárov, Klečaty, Zálší, Mažice, Borkovice, Žíšov and Zaluží. A nature trail passes through the reserve’s moorland. Check route conditions before visiting.

Trails and Activities

From Sviny, take a walk along the dams of the Dorotka and Holý ponds. The Greenway selského baroka cycling route also passes through Sviny; before setting out, it is worth checking the current route and signage. Inline skaters can travel from Sviny toward Borkovice, Dolní Bukovsko and Veselí nad Lužnicí on maintained roads with less traffic. Road conditions can change, so check them in advance.

Recreational and sport fishing is possible at Cihelna Pond. Check the current conditions and permits before fishing. The multipurpose sports facility in Sviny, renovated in 2026, can serve visitors to the municipality and provide a wider range of physical activities.

Crafts are another aspect of local life: Keramika U Kočků decorates its ceramics by hand using underglaze painting.

Discover more destinations: Haškovcova Lhota, Krátošice, Vresná, Chrbonín, Přehořov, Hrusova Lhota, Meziříčí, Krída.

For the broader travel overview: Okres Tábor.