Discover Zalesni Lhota

Zálesní Lhota between mountain and stream

Zálesní Lhota combines local history with a distinctive landscape. The Lhotský potok stream flows through Zálesní Lhota; the village lies on the slopes of Stráž, a 630-metre-high melaphyre mountain in the foothills of the Krkonoše Mountains. First mentioned in 1403, the village offers you clear access to history, landscapes and regional routes.

Church of St John of Nepomuk

The neo-Gothic Church of St John of Nepomuk is at the centre of the village’s history. It was built between 1881 and 1884 on the site of an older wooden church dating from 1595. Inside are original sandstone ribs with richly decorated imposts and rosettes. A church service is held regularly on Sundays at 11:00 am. For planning a trip focused on religious history, this Sunday appointment provides a fixed time reference. This makes it possible to connect the village’s history with a specific religious site.

Stráž, settlement history and local personalities

In the early Middle Ages, Stráž was a watch mountain on a land-trading route and is mentioned in 11th-century chronicles under the Latin name Custodius. The first inhabitants searched for silver on the slopes of Strážník; the valley of the Lhotecký potok was connected with their livestock farming. Zálesní Lhota (Huttendorf) was established in the 15th century during the German colonisation of the border regions. The sequence of watch mountain, silver prospecting and settlement foundation places the village’s history in context across several centuries. These layers make the village especially interesting for travellers who want to experience nature together with, rather than separately from, history.

Personalities also shape the village’s history: cross-country skier and Olympic medallist Květa Jeriová-Pecková was born in Zálesní Lhota on 10 October 1956 and was a three-time Olympic medallist. Actor and composer Jiří Šlitr comes from Zálesní Lhota. This gives you an additional cultural connection alongside the architectural and landscape history.

Cross-country skiing and cycling route

If you are planning an active stay, the Dolní Kalná–Zálesní Lhota–Horní Kalná cross-country skiing route runs from Dolní Kalná to Zálesní Lhota and then onwards towards Branná or Horní Kalná. A cycling route from Martinice v Krkonoších via Horní Branná, Dolní Branná, Horní Kalná and Zálesní Lhota leads back to Martinice v Krkonoších. When comparing the two activities, the season is therefore not the only factor: the cross-country skiing route offers onward travel in two directions, while the cycling route returns to the starting point. The two routes give your planning a clear choice between cross-country skiing and cycling without allowing the village’s history to fade into the background.

Local culture and further orientation

The fire brigade in Zálesní Lhota organises the Josefovský bál. When choosing your accommodation, you can first decide whether the church and local history or one of the described routes should be the focus of your trip. For further research, you can also visit Veselá, Vyskeř, Rychlov, Turnov, Paseky Nad Jizerou, Slana, Loukov Nad Jizerou and Bozkov.

For the broader travel overview: Semily District.