Sběř – Nature, Culture and Historical Traces

Natural Area and Trails around Sběř

Sběř combines a distinctive natural area with cultural and historical traces that are particularly evident in Velešice and along the village. Sběřský rybník pond forms a local biocentre in the cadastral area of Sběř on the Kozojedský potok stream; its associated wet meadow is home to distinctive aquatic and waterside communities. At the same time, Sběřský rybník is the most significant body of water in the Sběř planning area.

The marked Češov–Vysoké Veselí nature trail passes through Sběř and Velešice. This provides a specific route connecting both places as part of a shared excursion theme. The nature trail is particularly interesting if you do not want to view the landscape and regional history separately. Another protected designation adds to the orientation around the area: the “Javorka a Cidlina – Sběř” nature monument covers 272.8765 ha and was first designated on 9 June 2014.

Church, Monument and Regional History

Sběř is home to a listed column with a statue of Saint John of Nepomuk. Velešice is also home to the Church of the Assumption of Our Lady, which is a listed immovable cultural monument in the area of Sběř. Its construction history goes back a long way: the church was built before 1355, the presbytery was rebuilt in 1581, and the nave was built by Jan Baptista Vlach in 1611. The years thus mark three construction phases of the church.

Inside the church are historic sandstone and marble epitaphs. They include an epitaph containing the mortal remains of Mikuláš Bořek Dohalský z Dohalic. The epitaphs are therefore located inside the church and complement its construction history with evidence of remembrance culture. Together with the Nepomuk column, they create a theme for a visit that connects architecture, remembrance culture and regional history.

The history of transport is also still visible in the village. In Sběř, remains of the railway embankment of the former Smidary–Vysoké Veselí railway line have been preserved. Trains ran there from 1881 to 1976. The railway line therefore explicitly belongs to the past history of the village’s use and should not be regarded as a current connection.

Orientation for Your Stay

IREDO buses operate in the Sběř area; connections to Jičín and Vysoké Veselí are available. When choosing accommodation, the available connections to Jičín and Vysoké Veselí can provide specific guidance if you wish to consider the location of your stay together with excursion destinations and regional mobility. The local Sběř public library regularly supplements and renews its permanent book collection with books from the exchange collection of the Václav Čtvrtek Library in Jičín.

The timing of events is also important: summer cinema screenings took place in Sběř in 2024 and 2025; a screening has been announced for 2026. Thus, 2024 and 2025 are in the past, while the screening for 2026 has been announced.

Other Places

Other places include Brdy, Doubrava, Bílsko U Hořic, Drevenice, Údrnice, Češov, Sukorady and Markvartice U Sobotky.

For the higher-level travel overview: Jičín District.