Hojanovice – Valley, Reservoir and Village History

Hojanovice lies in an unusual landscape: the village extends across three sides of an enclosed, deep valley. Above the reservoir of the Švihov Dam, this sheltered valley location combines with a history dating back to the Middle Ages. If you are looking for accommodation for a trip into the rural surroundings, you will find a place here where landscape, village history and small cultural and historical discoveries are closely connected.

Views of the valley and the landscape around the Švihov Reservoir

The Hojanovice valley lies above the reservoir of the Švihov Dam. The village is therefore part of an area whose character is shaped by waterscapes and wooded or rural surroundings. The Švihov (Želivka) area is also part of the Želivka European Site of Community Importance. If, when planning your trip, you want to consider not only a single excursion but also the surrounding landscape, you can therefore keep Hojanovice in mind as a destination for peaceful discoveries around the valley and reservoir.

Chapel, bell and traces of local history

A simple prismatic chapel stands in the middle of the lower village square. It was built after 1858 and dedicated to the Virgin Mary. However, the history of the village goes back considerably further: Hojanovice was first mentioned in writing in 1318, when it was recorded as belonging to the Želiv estate. The chapel’s replacement bell also tells a story of the more recent past. It was hung and consecrated together with the chapel in spring 1948.

For families, this combination of an easy-to-explore village setting and specific historical details can be particularly interesting. Children and adults encounter more than just a date: at the village square, chapel and bell, they can discover different traces of the past. The Hojanovice Volunteer Fire Brigade was founded on 7 September 1902. A restored hand-operated fire pump is used as a unique museum piece during demonstrations and drills, adding a vivid technical feature to the local history.

Views and travel planning

A stone cross dating from 1885 stands by the road in V Osinách. From there, you can enjoy views of the reservoir and Ježov. This specific viewpoint can add its own highlight to your day plan without requiring you to organize your stay around a long list of sights. You can also plan your journey according to the local conditions: the main road from Ledeč nad Sázavou to Humpolec runs through Hojanovice. In addition, all settlements within the Hojanovice area are served by bus routes.

When choosing your accommodation, it is therefore worth first deciding on your preferred travel style: would you like to combine the valley setting, views of the reservoir and local history, or should Hojanovice primarily serve as a rural base for exploring the surrounding area? The chapel, the stone cross in V Osinách, the history of the fire brigade and the Želivka area offer various starting points for this.

Other places in the surrounding area

If you would like to continue planning your trip in this part of the Czech Republic, you can also include Ústrašín, Vystrkov, Betlem, Pacov, Zmišovice, Nová Cerekev, Hribeci and Popelistna in your further search.

For the overview of the wider area: Pelhřimov District.