Basic information about the trail
The Cyril and Methodius Route, leading from Žítková to Bojkovice along the blue tourist trail of the Czech Hiking Club, offers an unforgettable experience full of natural beauty and historical landmarks. This trail is ideal for hiking enthusiasts who want to explore the cultural heritage and natural wonders of the Zlín Region.
Starting in the picturesque village of Žítková, known for its “Žítková goddesses” – women famous for their healing abilities and divination skills. Here, you can visit the Museum of Žítková Goddesses, which offers a fascinating insight into the history and traditions of this region.
The trail continues through the beautiful hills and forests of the White Carpathians, where you can enjoy the peaceful and scenic landscape. Along the way, you’ll encounter several viewpoints offering breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding countryside.
One of the main stops is the Nový Světlov Castle in Bojkovice. This neo-Gothic castle is surrounded by a beautiful park and offers tours of its interiors, taking you back in time to the history of the noble family.
The trail ends in Bojkovice, where you can visit the Bojkovsko Museum, showcasing the rich history and culture of this region. After a challenging hike, you can relax in one of the local restaurants and taste traditional Moravian cuisine.
The Cyril and Methodius Route from Žítková to Bojkovice is an ideal choice for those seeking a combination of natural beauty and cultural experiences. This trail offers not only physical activity but also the opportunity to learn about the rich history and traditions of the Zlín Region. Get ready for an unforgettable trip full of discovery and adventure.
What's ahead of us?
Starting point: Žítková
Ending point: Bojkovice
Distance: 11,7 km
Estimated travel time: 3:38 hours
Difficulty: medium
Altitude: ascent 323 m, descent 439 m
Surface: paved asphalt road, forest and field paths
Critical points: From Krhov to Bojkovice is about 2 km along the road
Our tip:
Use the built cycle path from Krhov to Bojkovice, which runs on the left side of the main road for safety reasons.
What can be seen?
Archaeological, pilgrimage, technical and natural monuments.
Museum of the Last Goddess of Žítková
- Starý Hrozenkov 150, 687 74 Starý Hrozenkov
- www.chalupazitkova.cz
- petr.mizera@volny.cz
- +420 608 467 901
Museum of the Last Goddess of Žítková
High in the hills of the White Carpathians, women with extraordinary abilities have lived since time immemorial. They were able to heal and help with all sorts of troubles, they were able to advise in times of trouble and they were also said to see into the future. They were called goddesses, and they passed on their art from generation to generation. There is still a cottage in the village of Čierné where the last goddess of Žítková, Irma Gabrhelová (1905-2001), lived, known by the nickname “Chupatá”, which she used like her mother, who was otherwise known as the goddess Struharka. Irma Gabrhelová spent almost half a century of her life in this cottage, of which she lived alone as a widow for twenty-two years. She came from thirteen children. She married when she was twenty-five. She had seven children with her husband. Irma Gabrhelová was widowed when she was sixty-eight years old and since then she lived alone in the cottage. The goddess Irma passed away at the turn of the millennium, on January 7, 2001, at the age of ninety-seven. With her, a unique phenomenon disappeared not only from the hills, but also from Central Europe. The goddesses at Žítková are no more. They left this world one by one, quietly and almost unnoticed. The only tangible thing that remains of the goddesses of Žítkov is this cottage, which we bought in a dismal state and reconstructed with the greatest respect and the greatest sensitivity. Today it is possible to visit this cottage, to see it including the interpretation.
Opening hours
- The visiting season in 2020 starts on Saturday 28 March and ends on Sunday 1 November.
- The guided tour lasts 90 minutes – opening hours are every Saturday, Sunday and public holidays at 1pm, 2.30pm, 4pm. It is not necessary to make an appointment by phone for these tour hours.
- Outside of these set tour times, individual tours can be arranged by telephone, provided that at least ten people are present.
- Questions, additional information or orders can be made either via our e-mail: petr.mizera@volny.cz or by calling us on our telephone number +420 608 467 901
Information centre with mini-museum
- Žítková 161, 687 74 Starý Hrozenkov
- www.zitkova.cz
- ou@zitkova.cz
- +420 572 696 301
Information centre with mini-museum
The information and tourist centre is located in the municipal office building and certainly has a lot to offer its visitors. Several books from regional literature are available for purchase. Tourist stamps, stickers and a wide range of postcards mapping the beautiful nature of Žítkovka are available for tourists. A great attraction is also the photo exhibition of Helena Michalčíková from Starý Hrozenkov. Helena has been using her lens to map the beautiful nature of Žítkovka and the whole Moravian Kopanice for several years in all seasons. The way the author looks at the world around her is sure to appeal to everyone, especially because her paintings capture not only specific places, but also their spirit and essence.
The information centre offers interesting attractions in the form of an exhibition of period photographs. Visitors can read interesting facts about the history and nomenclature of local districts. Of course, there are also tourist maps and a leaflet with hiking routes, which give detailed instructions on how to see the most of our countryside.
Museum of Bojkovice area
- Palackého 172-173, 687 71 Bojkovice
- www.muzeumbojkovska.cz
- info@muzeumbojkovska.cz
- +420 739 202 813
Museum of Bojkovice region
You can see crafts, justice, housing with economy, art and spiritual life in the Bojkovice region Museum. The historic apartment from the 1950s and the old school classroom have their own unique atmosphere. The latest exhibition focuses on the phenomenon of Moravian Kopanice and the Žítková goddess. You can enjoy expositions devoted to the oldest history of the Bojkovice region, guilds and crafts, the Bojkovice judiciary, a folk house with a farm and an exposition of sacral themes. Each tour has its own attraction and unique atmosphere. You can see, for example, the equipment of an 18th-century tannery, examples of blacksmiths and locksmiths’ work or guild figures in the exhibition focused on crafts. There is also the traditional theme of the museum – an exhibition dedicated to animal husbandry or objects reminiscent of the activities of Bajer’s soda factory.
Judiciary
The importance of Bojkovice as an administrative and judicial centre, which has had judicial powers since the 15th century, is also recalled. It is worth mentioning that the museum itself is now located in the former courthouse and the Bojkovice town hall from 1672 was also located on this site. Its existence is commemorated by a bell from 1669, which rang for convicts on their way to the execution ground, the shackles from the town hall cloakroom and the poppy which was placed on the town hall tower. A more recent period, when the district court functioned here, is represented by the installation of the court room and there is also a reminder of the important head of the district court, JUDr. Bohumír Bunža.
Folk traditions and economy
There is a demonstration of housing and farming in the Bojkovice region for lovers of folk traditions with an impressive installation of a house wall separating the two parts. Another exposition dedicated to spiritual themes offers an opportunity to reflect and be silent over works of a sacred nature. Impressive atmosphere is evoked by stained glass windows, statues and images of centurions or the presence of a priest – even if only as a mannequin. You will feel like you are visiting your grandmother in the exhibition of a 1950s retro apartment, which consists of a kitchen, a living room, a bedroom and a bathroom with a toilet. All the furnishings are period and evoke memories of a time recently past for visitors. The school classroom exhibition is loved not only by children, but also by adults, whose memories of their school years will fade.
Moravian Kopanice
Another exhibition focuses on the Moravian Kopanice area. This is the area consisting of the villages of Starý Hrozenkov, Žítková, Vápenice and Vyškovec. The first part of the exposition will introduce you to the history of the area, life during the year and the simple costume with typical colourful embroidery of Moravské Kopanice. The descriptive part of the exposition is complemented by embroidery, costumes and costume components from different time periods and historical photographs illustrating the reality of everyday life. The exhibition continues with the installation of a two-room house consisting of a pit, which was used to house farm tools, household utensils and often livestock, and a simply furnished room dominated by a black kitchen with a bread oven.
Information centre of the Bojkovice area
- Palackého 172-173, 687 71 Bojkovice
- www.muzeumbojkovska.cz/ic-bojkovska
- infocentrum@bojkovice.cz
- +420 739 202 813
Nový Světlov Chateau
- Světlov 291, 687 71 Bojkovice
- www.zameksvetlov.cz
- recepce@zameksvetlov.cz
- +420 572 666 222
Nový Světlov Chateau
The Neo-Gothic Chateau Nový Světlov, originally a Gothic castle from the 15th century, is today sometimes called the Slovak Miramare and serves as a hotel and restaurant. Tours of the chateau are offered on a limited basis during the tourist season. The courtyard of the chateau is covered, fully air-conditioned and equipped with audiovisual technology. The space allows for theatre and concert performances, congresses and conferences. The chateau’s surroundings are popular for weddings. The complex also includes a large English park.
Sights
At the foot of the White Carpathians in Bojkovice – Světlov you will find a unique chateau in the English Tudor Gothic style. Nový Světlov Chateau is a prestigious regional cultural centre open all year round. You will find here a theatre hall, a hotel and a restaurant. The hotel part has a capacity of 72 beds. Each room is equipped with hand-carved mahogany furniture, a large-screen plasma TV. Guests will welcome the modern and marble-tiled bathrooms with the charm of history.
The main theatre and concert hall with underfloor heating and full air conditioning, with excellent sound system and intelligent lighting, has a capacity of at least 500 people for theatrical arrangements. A number of historic halls and lounges are available for social gatherings, celebrations and business presentations.
The Larisch Mönnich Restaurant offers a seating capacity of 68. It is located on the ground floor of the south wing adjacent to the main hall. It is completely wheelchair accessible, including modern toilets. Visitors can make use of the adjacent car park adjacent to the main entrance.
From April to October, weekend tours of the castle run from 11am – 4pm. Then, from July to August, tours of the castle are available every day except Mondays, with a trained guide every full hour. Organised tours of the castle are from Tuesday to Sunday, from 11:00 to 16:00. Tours begin every full hour, with the last tour starting at 4:00 pm. Tours and larger groups, please announce your visit in advance.
Where to eat and sleep?
Restaurants and accommodation along the trail.
Youth Home Church High School
- Husova 537, 687 71 Bojkovice
- csos.op.cz/turisticke-ubytovani
- ubytovani.bojkovice@gmail.com
- +420 731 625 935
Eurocamping Bojkovice
- Štefánikova 1008, 687 71 Bojkovice
- www.eurocamping.cz
- info@eurocamping.cz
- +420 604 236 631
Hvězda Plus s. r. o.
- Sušilova 215, 687 71 Bojkovice
- www.restauracehvezda.cz
- restauracehvezda@centrum.cz
- +420 774 861 008
Pension Rotop
- Mánesova 252, 687 71 Bojkovice
- www.penzion.rotop.cz
- penzion@rotop.cz
- +420 572 640 108
Pension U Jandlů
- Bojkovice - Krhov 39, 687 71 Bojkovice
- dagmarjandlova@seznam.cz
- +420 605 550 984
Nový Světlov Chateau
- Světlov 291, 687 71 Bojkovice
- www.zameksvetlov.cz
- recepce@zameksvetlov.cz
- +420 572 666 222
Pension AgraM
- Světlov 983, 687 71 Bojkovice
- www.agramm.cz
- agram@agram.cz
- +420 777 255 039
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Photogallery
Photos from hiking.
Why walk the trails of the Cyril and Methodius Route?
The long-distance trails of the Cyril and Methodius Route invite you to pilgrimage sites and archaeological sites that have contributed significantly to the development of Slavic culture. They are signposted in both directions and encourage wandering without borders, not only state borders.
- Experience: you'll be surprised what you can do
- Great signposting: tourist signposting
- Incredible landscape: we wander through the countryside off the busy stretches
What can be obtained?
Perhaps everyone likes to bring back something from hiking, be it various tourist and souvenir items. If you will be hiking the Cyril and Methodius Route, we have prepared the following printed materials to motivate you to hike the trail:
- Pilgrimage passports: collecting stamps for a special passport
- Memorial letters: a souvenir letter at the end of the journey
- Maps: printed guide