Památník Antonína Ševčíka

Památník Antonína Ševčíka is a small stone memorial to a forester who died in a work accident in the early 20th century. It stands on the upper edge of the left slope of Josefovský Valley, in the heart of the Moravian Karst, close to the village of Babice nad Svitavou.

Who does the memorial commemorate?

The monument honors Antonín Ševčík, a local forester (hajný) who died in 1905 at the age of 53. He was killed while working in the forest, when a wagon loaded with wood overturned on him on icy, frozen ground. For more than a century the memorial has served as a quiet marker of this local tragedy, set into the forested landscape surrounding Babice nad Svitavou.

Where exactly is the memorial located?

The site sits on the upper edge of the left slope of Josefovský Valley (Josefovské údolí), within the Moravian Karst. This is precisely the point where two marked trails cross: a blue trail coming from Babice, and a yellow trail arriving from the Alexander Lookout Tower (Alexandrova rozhledna). The memorial's coordinates are 49.300870, 16.684520.

How do you get there?

The most convenient approach is the blue-marked trail, known locally as Skatulova cesta, running from the Alexander Lookout Tower toward Babice nad Svitavou. The route passes through the densely forested terrain typical of the Moravian Karst, with its ravines and valleys carved into the region's limestone landscape, famous for its caves. The memorial lies directly on the path connecting these two points, making it a natural stop for anyone walking between the lookout tower and the village.

Why is this spot worth a stop?

The Ševčík memorial is not a grand monument — it's a modest stone trace of a human tragedy, one of many that marked the history of forestry work in Central Europe. Its value lies precisely in that simplicity: it recalls the everyday, dangerous labor of foresters at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, when transporting timber by horse-drawn wagon along steep, icy forest roads regularly ended in accidents. For hikers exploring the Moravian Karst trail network, it offers a brief moment of reflection along a route otherwise focused on natural and scenic attractions.

What should you know before visiting?

The area around the memorial is classic Moravian Karst terrain — limestone hills, deep valleys, and dense forest, with other viewpoints and trails leading to the region's well-known caves nearby. It's best visited as part of a longer walk linking the Alexander Lookout Tower with Babice nad Svitavou, rather than as a destination on its own — the memorial itself is small and best appreciated along the way between other points on the route.

Frequently asked questions

Who was Antonín Ševčík? A local forester (hajný) who died in 1905 at age 53, killed when a wood-laden wagon overturned on him on icy ground while he was working in the forest.

Where exactly is the memorial located? On the upper edge of the left slope of Josefovský Valley in the Moravian Karst, where the blue trail from Babice meets the yellow trail from the Alexander Lookout Tower.

How do you reach the memorial? Most easily via the blue-marked trail (known as Skatulova cesta) running from the Alexander Lookout Tower toward Babice nad Svitavou.

Is the memorial connected to the 1951 postwar tragedy in Babice? No — it commemorates an entirely different event, a fatal forestry accident that predates the First World War, unrelated to the later events of 1951.

Is it worth combining with other sights? Yes — the memorial lies on the path between the Alexander Lookout Tower and Babice nad Svitavou, in the heart of the Moravian Karst, close to other viewpoints and trails in the area.