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FAQ10. We want to visit the Žďár Hills in the Czech Highlands. Can you recommend good places to stay and eat?
Places to Stay
Many places to stay in the Zd'ar Hills countryside are very simple economical accommodations where you bring your own
bedding, towels, and sometimes food, share a room with 2 to 4 others,
and possibly share the common bathroom down the hall. Rates are often in the 180-350 CZK per person per night
range with a minimum stay required.
We have reviewed some of these, but our main emphasis is
on places that are more comfortable and have more privacy
and charm.
Pensions: Inspected and recommended
These three pensions pass the Hedgie standard.
- Penzion V Kapli, Santiniho 64, Zamek, 591 02 Žďár nad Sazavou
Telephone: 566 623 552 e-mail Kaple@kaple.cz
A beautiful circular chapel on the grounds of the chateau and museum in Žďár nad Sazavou, has been converted into a lovely airy cafe and B&B. Rates are very resonable for both the rooms and the "apartment" with kitchenette. Breakfast is extra. A truly unique and charming B&B.
- Pension Velke Darko in Škrdlovice. Near the large reservoir of the same name, a very popular recreational area, this new pension has simple but bright, cheerful rooms and reasonable-sized updated bathrooms en suite. Telephone: 566 659 107
- "U Slechtu" in Milovy. Rooms above what is very good restaurant in an beautiful, extensively renovated old farmhouse, run by the 3 owners themselves. Unfortunately, their web presence is spread over many strange sites and is entirely in Czech, illustrated with unflattering photos. Across the road from the Hotel 9 Skal and the large pond, with beautiful vistas of the hills on the other side. Attractive, comfortable rooms. Telephone: 566-664-339 or 608-845-561. Very little English. Get a Czech speaker to help, if you phone. If you go there for lunch (see below), you may be able to snag a room, except on weekends in July and August. Very friendly personnel, though quite rushed in high summer when cyclists all stop for lunch.
Hotels and Pensions: Inspected, with prickly reviews
- Hotel 9 Skal in Milovy: A large former trade union workers' recreational hotel, this rather plain
hotel now belongs to the Orea chain. The setting is stunning but the rooms are very basic and
the bathrooms very old, small, and quirky. Heating is centrally controlled and is often
excessive, except in summer. Personnel are friendly but don't speak English. Often filled with conventions
and training meetings. A truly eccentric feature is the "mini golf" set up in back.
Best features: a sauna, an indoor pool, and a great masseuse. The restaurant in the hotel is fairly good and has pleasant views of the large pond. woods, and hills. Adjoining cafe/restaurant is fair. Go across the
road to "U Slechtu" for a good meal. Telephone:566 664 311.
- Penzion Bukáček in Křižánky. A basic, low-price pension with restaurant run by one of original families in Moravian Křižánky. Beautiful setting near a large pond but rooms and baths need renovating and updating. Little or no English. Restaurant is cozy but food tends to be very heavy. Best feature: Outdoor terrace in summer is idyllic for a beer, light snack, and leisurely conversation. You must drive down a very narrow road to get there, prepared to back up to a wider spot if you meet an oncoming car. Telephone: 566-662 308 e-mail:pensionbukacek(at)quick.cz The website give lots of information in Czech, with some great photos of the area.
- Hotel Manes in Svratka. We discourage booking stays here unless there are dramatic improvements. Even the lobby assaults you with the smell of mildew and dust. The restaurant is nearly always deserted and service there has been less than mediocre.
Rent a cottage as your base:
Cottages are listed in the print publication "Rural Tourism in the Czech Republic," which stresses
ecotourism and agrotourism. The website they are associated with has an English version, but the online listings for the Czech Republic are still limited.
If you are searching for Žďár Hills accommodations using either this book or their website, you will need a good map to use as you select one in their "Highland" section; the Žďár Hills are a small part of the Highlands or Vysočina area. This service does not distinguish between the two. Pensions, farmhouses, and private rooms are mixed in with cottages but detailed information and photos are given,
including languages spoken, phone numbers, and e-mail.
Recommended Restaurants in the Zd'ar Hills
"U Slechtu"
in Milovy. Very good restaurant run by the 3 friendly owners themselves.
Very popular in summer with cyclists, in winter with skiers. November usually features a special
"Zverinové Hody" or fest featuring game dishes, becoming a "destination restaurant" for a day trip. English menus available. Closed Mondays.
"Motorest Galerie"
is a combination restaurant and marvelous glass and craft shop. Not an inspired name, but both are excellent. They are owned by
the famous glass artist, Jaroslav Svoboda, who has his glass works nearby. It is on route 37 just
north of Žďár nad Sazavou in the village of Karlov. Telephone 566-659-531. English menus available and English spoken.
Supermarkets and local markets in the Žďár Hills
- There are major supermarkets in Žďár, Nove Mesto nad Morave, and Hlinsko. They have all the groceries you
would expect in Prague.
- For local needs if you are in the Svratka area, go to the tiny but very good "Vojteska." It is even open
on Sunday mornings.
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