Držková: Nature, Trails and Timber Tradition

Držková combines distinctive rock landscapes, designated natural areas, marked hiking trails, cycling routes associated with Držková, and evidence of regional craft and festival traditions. The Přední Skaly rise above the village; from their summits, there are views of Držková and its valley. The rock formations, made of sandstone and conglomerate, were designated a natural monument in 1987. Přední Skaly are used by both experienced and less advanced climbers.

Nature

The entire cadastral area of Držková belongs to the Hostýnské vrchy Nature Park. The northern part of the cadastral area also belongs to the Hostýnské vrchy Bird Protection Area. About 1 kilometre north of Držková lies the Holíkova rezervace nature reserve. This protected area contains sandstone outcrops and the Zadní skály rock formations; a mixed forest with a predominance of beech also grows there. From Vančica, there are views as far as Troják and Kotáry.

Držková has thirteen well-maintained springs distributed throughout the cadastral area. Frdlantka is a spring in a wooden trough near the old Slovákova dřevěnice in Košařiska. At U Třech kamenů, three sandstone boundary stones can still be seen today.

Hiking and Trails

The Držkovské chodníčky educational trail is located in Držková in the Hostýnské vrchy. The longest route of the educational trail is 21.6 kilometres long. The trail can be entered at any point; information boards assist with orientation. A red-marked hiking trail leads through Držková towards Tesák and Rajnochovice. A blue-marked hiking trail begins in the village and leads towards Kopná and Baťková. From U Třech kamenů, marked hiking trails lead to Tesák, Troják and Hostýn.

Several cycling routes are also connected with Držková. Cycling route 5038 runs through easier terrain to Rusava and onwards to Hostýn. Cycling route 6124 leads through Držková’s Májová district towards Vsetín. Cycling route 6123 connects Držková with Hošťálková.

Culture and History

In the centre of Držková, the Muzeum dřevěného porculánu preserves around 450 exhibits documenting earlier life in Držková and Valašsko. The museum also preserves evidence of the former home production of wooden tools and utensils in Držková. It is open year-round, but visits must be arranged in advance by telephone or email.

The Kaple svatého Václava also stands in the centre. It was completed and consecrated on 31 August 1930. Čihařova chalupa is the only listed building in Držková. In 1981, it was dismantled in Jasenná and rebuilt in Ráztoky in Držková.

Another tradition passed down through the generations is the Končiny masked procession with bear-leading. The old tradition was revived in Držková in the 1990s by firefighters. The date of Končiny – vodění medvěda is not fixed but is calculated from the date of Easter. The procession consists of ten to twenty masked figures and passes through Držková’s scattered homesteads and cleared areas.

Other places in the same administrative area: Podhradí U Luhačovic, Brumov-Bylnice, Lípa, Nedašov, Bratřejov, Machová, Kaňovice, Pohořelice.

To the higher-level travel overview: Zlín District.