Discover Vidochov

Vidochov combines an easily accessible location with remarkable churches, hiking and cycling trails, and geological features. The village lies 5 km northeast of Nová Paka on the road to Hostinné.

Churches with Different Histories

On the road from Vidochov to Stupná, the Church of the Guardian Angels stands on the left. It is a prominent building in the lower part of the municipality and is particularly notable for its tower. On the northeastern side rises a three-storey ashlar tower with a pyramidal roof. In the middle section there are triangular ventilation openings; at the top are a finial sphere and a Latin cross. From the ashlar tower to the Latin cross, the architecture is structured by clearly recognizable details. It is precisely these clearly defined architectural features that make the church an interesting destination for visitors who also wish to notice architectural details along their routes.

The Church of St Mary Magdalene leads into another historical layer of the village. The Carthusians from Valdice built it between 1717 and 1719, with Václav Heldt as the master builder. The complex also includes a mortuary built into the enclosure wall opposite the entrance gate and a central cross in the cemetery. The church, wall, mortuary and cemetery thus form a coherent historic site where sacred architecture and local history can be viewed directly alongside one another.

Hiking, Cycling and the View from Kozinec

The area around Vidochov is criss-crossed by numerous hiking and cycling trails. These routes offer various ways to explore the landscape actively.

A prominent viewpoint is Kozinec Lookout Tower, which was opened to the public in 2009. The tower can be reached from the Nová Paka – město ČD stop or from Horka u Staré Paky railway station via the green-marked hiking trail and a paved turnoff. The route to Kozinec is divided into two sections: first the green-marked hiking trail, followed by a paved turnoff. This precise route description also makes Kozinec interesting for visitors who would like to combine a viewpoint with travelling there by train.

Geology and Traces of Mining

The so-called Vidochovský lom is a geological locality. Chalcedony, agates and various quartz varieties occur there, including smoky quartz. In addition to churches and viewpoints, Vidochov therefore also offers a special point of interest for anyone interested in rocks and the geological character of a landscape.

Another historical trace lies on the northeastern edge of the Vidochov valley: the shafts and adits of the “Marie Matky” mine were located there. The shafts and adits are thus preserved as tangible traces of the former mine. Mining is therefore part of the valley’s recorded history, while the churches, trails, lookout tower and geological locality offer different points of access for planning a trip today.

Other Places at the Same Level

For your further search: Rytírova Lhota, Hubálov, Červená Třemešná, Stupná, Žeretice, Holovousy, Zámezí, Vřesník.

For the higher-level travel overview: Jičín District.