Tatobity – Nature and Culture at Kozákov

Tatobity combines a striking landscape with a surprisingly rich local history. The municipality lies at the foot of Kozákov, which, at 744 metres, is the highest mountain in Český ráj. Tatobity is also located near the Český ráj Protected Landscape Area and in the Český ráj Geopark, which is included on the UNESCO list. This gives you a destination where the natural environment and regional culture stand closely side by side. The protected landscape and the geopark provide the area with a broader setting, while Kozákov and the surrounding mountains directly define the landscape.

The Thousand-Year-Old Lime Tree of Tatobity

One particularly impressive landmark is the Tatobity thousand-year-old lime tree. Its estimated age is between 600 and 1,000 years. The gnarled lime tree has a hollow interior large enough for more than ten people. Its awards also make it a remarkable destination: in 2015, it won the Czech Tree of the Year competition. In the European competition for the most beautiful tree in Europe, it took second place with more than 43,000 votes.

The mountains Tábor, Střelečská hůra, Přivýšina, and Strážník lie around Tatobity. They complement Kozákov with additional mountains in the area surrounding the municipality. At 744 metres, Kozákov is the highest mountain in Český ráj; the four mountains expand the landscape around Tatobity. Here, the mountain landscape meets a single natural monument. The lime tree creates its own natural accent among the mountains.

Historical Traces in the Municipality and Surrounding Area

The local landmarks include the Church of St. Lawrence. It was rebuilt from 1714 and completed in 1753; before that, a predominantly wooden chapel had stood on this site since 1602. The church site thus connects an early chapel with the later building. The vicarage is also part of Tatobity’s history and was built in 1884. In the upper part of the municipality, there is also the statue of the Virgin Mary known as Matička. It was created by the local sculptor Zeman; 1820 and 1867 are possible dates for its creation. The time span therefore extends from the chapel dating from 1602 to the statue’s two possible years.

Another connection to cultural history leads to the wayside shrine in Tatobity dating from 1776. It inspired Jan Neruda to write “Balada horská”. Alongside its churches, the connection between the wayside shrine and the ballad gives the municipality a literary association. Valdštejn, a church, is also located in the vicinity of Tatobity.

Tradition and Practical Orientation

The Christmas Midnight Mass in Tatobity is part of the local tradition. It is prepared by residents of the municipality and the surrounding area under the direction of Jaroslav Šťastný. The Tatobity quarry, an ignimbrite quarry, is also relevant for orientation in the area. There are no traffic restrictions on driving to the quarry by car.

The Christmas Midnight Mass and the ignimbrite quarry offer different points of interest from the churches, wayside shrine, and mountains. For your further travel planning, you can also discover Jilemnice, Benecko, Morcinov, Dolni Stepanice, Hochstadt An Der Iser, Benešov U Semil, Syřenov, and Studenec.

For the overarching travel overview: Semily District.