Chlum-Korouhvice among hiking trails, nature and history

Hiking between the lookout tower and the landscape

Chlum-Korouhvice combines impressive trails, natural landmarks and a rich local history. This creates a destination where active days and peaceful discoveries can be combined. An extensive network of hiking and cycling trails opens up the surrounding area, including a trail to the Horní les lookout tower.

The blue-marked hiking trail from Vír climbs uphill through Chlum and continues to Javorův kopec. The Horní les lookout tower is also located nearby, on the 774-metre-high mountain of the same name. Its viewing platform is 38 metres above the ground. The tower is open to the public every year from 15 April to 15 October. If you are looking for a longer hike during your stay, the regional route “Za nejvyšším převýšením Vysočiny” covers 17 km and takes approximately 5.5 hours.

Cyclists will also find a clearly marked connection: the blue cycle route 5218 runs through Chlum to a forest crossroads below Javorův kopec. This allows you to consider different priorities when choosing accommodation without reducing the area to just one type of excursion.

Javorův kopec and the bay of the Vír Reservoir

The Javorův kopec natural monument protects a mosaic of wet meadows with cabbage thistles and spring areas. These are bordered by transitions to mesophilic meadows and Nardus grasslands. Populations of the broad-leaved marsh orchid (Dactylorhiza majalis) and the lesser butterfly-orchid (Platanthera bifolia) occur on Javorův kopec.

Other natural features include a protected lime tree in Chlum. Korouhvice also has a bay of the Vír Reservoir. When the water level is low, the foundations of the original houses become visible there. A pond at the former mill and a path with a small bridge also appear at such times. For your travel planning, this means there is a significant difference between an excursion at the usual water level and an exploration in which traces of the former settlement become visible.

Local history that lives on in the landscape

Chlum is first mentioned as early as 1349. A later historical reference is the mention of a “rychta” in 1596. The term refers to a historical magistrate’s office or administrative district. A historic fire engine is also displayed on the village green in Chlum—an individual, vivid object that brings local history into the public space.

The fields known as V Kostele and U Kostela also bear traditional names. A local legend connects them with a shared church history of Chlum and Vítochov. Following the proclamation of the Toleration Patent, the majority of the inhabitants of Chlum and Korouhvice turned to the Protestant faith.

The history of Korouhvice is closely connected with the construction of the Vír I waterworks: the municipality of Korouhvice disappeared in 1958, with the exception of three houses. When the water level of the Vír Reservoir is low, parts of this past become visible again. Here, nature and the culture of remembrance are therefore not separate but meet you in the same places.

Find accommodation to suit your desired stay

When looking for a hotel in Chlum-Korouhvice, you can therefore first decide which experiences should define your stay. Those who want to focus on hiking and cycling can orient themselves around the routes, Javorův kopec and the Horní les lookout tower. Those particularly interested in the landscape and history can also include the bay of the Vír Reservoir, the visible foundations at low water levels and the historical traces in Chlum and Korouhvice.

Discover more places

For your further search, you can also explore Spělkov, Poděšín, Měřín, Podolí, Horní Libochová, Křídla, Prosetín and Bobrůvka.

For the overview of the wider travel region: Okres Žďár Nad Sázavou.