Heroltice: Karst Landscape and Village History

Heroltice lies south of Tišnov, above the Svratka Valley. The Lažánecko-Heroltický Karst stretches between the village and the valley of the Bílý potok. When looking for a hotel in Heroltice, it helps to consider your interests: the landscape and waterways here sit alongside a village history that can be told through specific dates.

Landscape, Waterways and Wildlife

The karst is part of the landscape between Heroltice and the valley of the Bílý potok. However, an important point to bear in mind when exploring the area is that most of the karst spaces here are practically inaccessible. The Pejškovský potok resurfaces at Na bílé, near Heroltice. The Na Bílém spring supplies water to Tišnov and Heroltice; it emerges from the rock and does not freeze.

A local biocentre was established on the Heroltický potok in 1999, with pools, wetlands and three ponds. Various amphibian species and the freshwater mussel Škeble rybničná live there. Birds that can be spotted in the area include mallard, grey heron, great reed warbler and kingfisher. Sightings cannot be guaranteed, but the list of species shows what wildlife is associated with the biocentre.

Protected plants are also among the natural features of Heroltice’s cadastral area: Brambořík nachový, Hořeček brvitý and Okrotice bílá, an orchid, are found here. Rare animal species occurring in the area include fire salamander, smooth snake, praying mantis, kingfisher and red-backed shrike. Their presence does not guarantee that you will see them during a visit. If you are considering Heroltice primarily for its nature, its waterways and wetlands, along with specific plant and animal species, offer useful points of reference.

Places Nearby

Near Heroltice, at Pravková, lies the nearly 20-hectare Slunná old-growth forest, consisting predominantly of beech woodland. A bench at the edge of Obceny Forest offers views towards Veverská Bítýška and Veveří Castle above it. Another local landmark is the masonry Studánka U Sovy spring, with an owl statue in a niche; it was built in 2008.

At Šárka lies Ostrov, the former site of the Rudomlýn mill, also known as Puchverk or Stoupa. From 1536, the mill was used to crush ore. Nearby is also Čertova hráz, the remains of a 32-metre-long stone dam in the valley of the Pejškovský potok. Further along the valley is a rest and refreshment area for walkers and cyclists. Forest, viewpoints, water and industrial history offer different ways to explore the area, without needing to combine them into a single route.

Village History and Events

The first mentions of Heroltice date back to 1316. At that time, the knight Herult (Herolt) of Heroltice settled on Horka Hill, where a fortress stood. A later landmark in the village’s history is the Chapel of St John of Nepomuk, the village’s patron saint, built in 1810. To the right of its entrance, a white stone commemorative plaque is set in a niche.

A statue of St John of Nepomuk stands on the village green. The municipality had it erected in 1907 using a bequest from Tomáš Trtílek, who came from Heroltice. The chapel and statue therefore both refer to the same saint, once as the village’s patron and once as the figure on the village green.

The annual events calendar includes Carnival, a festival to welcome spring, a church feast under the maypole, a children’s summer cinema, a kite festival and a lantern procession. If you would like to plan your trip around an event, check the specific dates and programmes locally.

For the broader travel overview: Brno-Country District.