Radňoves

Radňoves Between Natural Environment and Firefighting History

Radňoves combines a remarkable settlement pattern with a distinctive natural setting: the municipality lies on the edge of the Velkomeziříčský Bioregion and directly borders the Sýkořský Bioregion. Those who choose the village for a stay in the Czech Republic will find not a generic collection of attractions, but several clearly distinct themes: landscape and biodiversity, historic settlement character, firefighting technology, and Cycling Route 5245, which passes through Radňoves.

A Ring-Shaped Settlement on the Edge of the Velkomeziříčský Bioregion

Radňoves is a ring-shaped forest-strip settlement founded in the Middle Ages. Its fields extend radially into the surrounding landscape. This historic layout makes the village interesting beyond its individual buildings, as the settlement pattern is an integral part of Radňoves’ character.

Radňoves lies on the edge of the Velkomeziříčský Bioregion and directly borders the Sýkořský Bioregion. From a biogeographical perspective, Radňoves belongs to the Hercynian subprovince. The municipality is home to transitional flora from both bioregions. This includes submontane species such as hairy sedge, three-leaved cuckoo flower and round-leaved sundew. The plant life thus complements the historic settlement character with a natural-history dimension.

The fauna of Radňoves includes, among others, eastern and western hedgehogs, noble crayfish, freshwater pearl mussels, fire salamanders, smooth newts, sand lizards and smooth snakes. According to the municipality, some of these species are listed in the Red Book. The fauna ranges from amphibians and reptiles to mammals and invertebrates.

Firefighting Technology as Living Local History

A special cultural attraction is the Firefighting Technology Museum in Radňoves. Volunteer firefighters began establishing it in 2008. The museum preserves written, photographic and film archive materials, combining technical objects with documented local and firefighting history.

The Firefighting Technology Museum can be visited by prior telephone arrangement. The history of the local fire brigade also includes a hand-operated, four-wheeled, horse-drawn fire engine, which the Radňoves fire brigade has preserved to this day. The firefighters used it, among other occasions, during the filming of the movie “Andělské oči”.

The firefighting tradition was also on display at a historic gathering: on 26 August 2018, Radňoves hosted the 22nd gathering of enthusiasts of historic firefighting technology. More than one hundred firefighters with historic equipment took part. The date belongs to the past; as a local detail, however, the event shows the importance that historic firefighting technology holds in Radňoves.

Beside the chapel stands a stone cross donated by the residents of Radňoves in 1913. Together with the ring-shaped settlement, the museum and the preserved fire engine, it creates a broad cultural overview of the village, without suggesting that the individual pieces of evidence tell the same story.

Cycling Route and Further Local Research

Cycling Route 5245 runs from Nová Ves through Radňoves to the turn-off near Vidonín.

For further local research, you can also view Rousměrov, Světnov, Vídeň, Vidonín, Ubušínek, Karlov, Tři Studně and Zubří.

For the higher-level travel overview: Žďár nad Sázavou District.