Stružinec
The first written record of Stružinec dates from 1377. The village as it is now is made up of three former villages, merged into one in 1960: Stružinec, Tuhaň with the village of Bezděčín, and Pohoří. Stružinec had 689 inhabitants as of 1 January 2023.
Stružinec lies in the valley of the Žlábek stream, which is surrounded by the hills of Hůrka, Stránský, and the Mákové hills to the northwest. From all these places there are beautiful views not only of the village, but also of the Giant Mountains with Sněžka and the Jizera Mountains with Ještěd. From Hůrka you can also admire much of the Bohemian Paradise, such as the ruins of the castles of Kumburk and Bradlec, Tábor mountain and Trosky Castle, and can see as far as the rocks by Mužský.
Running close by Bezděčín is the red-marked Golden Trail of the Bohemian Paradise.
The Municipality of Stružinec
Visitors to Stružinec should definitely take in some of its sights, such as the bell tower with its upside-down bell, the memorial to those killed in the First World War, the group of sculptures depicting the coronation of the Virgin Mary, the statue of St. John of Nepomuk and the timbered cottages and farmsteads, fine examples of rural architecture. Other popular places to visit include the landscaped area around the pond, the little park by the elementary school, and the football pitch and tennis courts with the children’s playground.
The village of Pohoří is situated two kilometres north of Stružinec down the Žlábek stream. From the highest point in the village there are views of the main ridge of the Giant Mountains.
Tuhaň lies to the northwest of Stružinec at the foot of the Mákové hills, extending below Zelený Háj to the main road to Semily. One place of interest here is the new bell tower by the local Tuhaňka restaurant, in which hangs a restored bell from 1922.
Bezděčín is a village now mostly used for recreation, as it is home to just three permanent inhabitants. It is situated to the southwest of Stružinec on the southern slope of the Chotice ridge, from where there is a beautiful view of the Bohemian Paradise. There is a little chapel in the centre of the village.
Stružinec has a lively cultural life. Local associations hold dance evenings and balls and more recent cultural events include the illumination of the Christmas tree, accompanied by a performance by children from the local elementary school. The carnival procession is another popular event. Football matches are a tradition here, held on the pitch in the village. Other events also take place in the village during the year. Information on events and the latest news from the village can be found at www.struzinec.cz and on the Stružinec Facebook profile – the village’s official page.
Sculpture of the Coronation of the Virgin Mary
