Komonec

Komonec is a 672-metre hill in the cadastral area of the village of Provodov, forming part of the Vizovice Hills (Vizovické vrchy) in the Zlín Region of eastern Moravia. It closes off the northern side of the spa valley around Luhačovice, giving the area its distinctive ridgeline silhouette.

Where does the name come from?

Local legend ties the hill's name to refugees from the village of Komňa who reportedly hid on its slopes in 1663 during a Turkish-Tatar raid into Moravia. Whether or not the story is historically precise, it has stuck as part of the region's folklore and is still told by locals in Provodov and the surrounding villages.

What's at the summit?

At the top, on an open forest clearing, hikers find a covered wooden shelter with a fireplace — a popular rest stop. Next to it stands a wooden cross and a folk devotional image of the Virgin Mary, along with an information board covering the hill's history and nature. The combination of a scenic clearing and a small roadside-shrine-style memorial is typical of the wooded hills of eastern Moravia.

Geologically, the hill is built from Carpathian flysch — sandstone of the Soláň and Luhačovice formations. It was originally covered by fir-beech forest, later replaced by spruce plantations. In 1992 a major forest fire swept through the slopes, destroying several dozen hectares of woodland and keeping professional and volunteer firefighters occupied for several days — an event still remembered locally.

How to get there

Komonec sits within the well-marked trail network of the Vizovice Hills. One popular route runs from the Tutkovské sedlo saddle over the Komonec summit down to Maleniska near Provodov, linking several scenic points along the way. The easiest starting points are the village of Provodov itself or the nearby spa town of Luhačovice, both connected to the marked hiking trails.

What else is nearby

The area around Komonec is dense with natural and historical points of interest: the ruins of Engelsberk and Starý Světlov castles, the Maleniska pilgrimage site with its Church of Our Lady of the Snows, the "Three Sisters" (Tři sestry) rock formation, the rocky outcrop area known as Mlčačky, and the Devil's Stone (Čertův kámen) near Provodov. That makes it easy to turn a walk up Komonec into a full day exploring the best of the Vizovice Hills.

When to visit

The hill is best visited between April and October, when trails are dry and the summit clearing offers open views over the surrounding ridges. Autumn, with the mixed forest turning colour, and early summer, when the meadow on top is at its greenest, are especially popular with photographers and landscape lovers.

Frequently asked questions

How tall is Komonec? The hill reaches 672 metres above sea level and belongs to the Vizovice Hills range.

Where does the name Komonec come from? According to legend, it refers to refugees from the village of Komňa who hid there during a Turkish raid in 1663.

What can you find at the top? A covered wooden shelter with a fireplace, a wooden cross, a folk Marian image, and an information board.

What's worth seeing nearby? The ruins of Engelsberk and Starý Světlov castles, the Maleniska pilgrimage site, the Three Sisters rocks, and the Mlčačky rock area.