Rudolf Těsnohlídek

Rudolf Těsnohlídek Memorial stands in a deep, wooded ravine above the Svitava river, in a spot that was known as Kozí žleb (Goat's Gorge) until 1929, when it was renamed Těsnohlídkovo údolí (Těsnohlídek's Valley) in honor of the writer commemorated here. The simple stone monument was unveiled in 1929, built by the forest management office in Adamov at the initiative of Professor Rudolf Hašek. The site lies close to the tunnel beneath the ruins of Obřany Castle, on the boundary between the villages of Kanice and Bílovice nad Svitavou.

Who was Rudolf Těsnohlídek?

Rudolf Těsnohlídek (1882–1928) was a Brno-based writer, poet, journalist and translator who also published under the pen name Arnošt Bellis. He wrote the original story of the vixen Bystrouška, which Leoš Janáček later turned into the opera "The Cunning Little Vixen" — one of the best-known Czech operas of the 20th century. Těsnohlídek died in 1928, a year before the memorial in this valley was unveiled, a valley tied to one of the defining episodes of his life.

Why is this exact spot connected to him?

On 22 December 1919, Těsnohlídek was walking through this ravine with two friends — court expert Josef Tesař and illustrator František Koudelka — when the three men found an abandoned infant. A childless couple later adopted the girl, naming her Liduška. The find affected Těsnohlídek so deeply that he started the tradition of the Christmas Tree of the Republic (Vánoční strom republiky), a tree set up every year in Denis Gardens in Brno to raise support for orphaned and poor children. Begun in the mid-1920s, the custom is still observed in Brno today.

What does the memorial look like, and where does the valley's name come from?

The memorial itself is modest — a small stone marker bearing a plaque with the writer's name, set at the point where the ravine opens toward the Svitava valley. Before 1929 the gorge was simply called Kozí žleb; once the memorial was dedicated, locals began referring to the romantic, deep ravine as Těsnohlídek's Valley, a name still used both colloquially and on hiking maps.

How do you get there?

A yellow-marked hiking trail runs through the valley, starting below the Resselova hájenka forester's lodge and ending in the Svitava valley beyond a footbridge that connects to a red-marked trail. The memorial sits at around 273 meters above sea level, inside the forest, with no set opening hours — it can be visited year-round, at any time of day. It makes a natural stop for anyone hiking between Kanice, Bílovice nad Svitavou and Adamov, particularly for visitors interested in the literary history of the Brno region.

Why does this modest memorial matter?

Despite its simple form, the site occupies an important place on the literary map of the Brno region — it links the story of one of the most widely read Czech writers to a real event that gave rise to one of the country's lasting Christmas traditions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where exactly is the Rudolf Těsnohlídek memorial located? In a deep ravine known as Těsnohlídkovo údolí (formerly Kozí žleb), near the tunnel under the ruins of Obřany Castle, on the border between Kanice and Bílovice nad Svitavou.

When was the memorial built, and who commissioned it? It was unveiled in 1929, a year after the writer's death. It was built by the forest management office in Adamov, at the initiative of Professor Rudolf Hašek.

Why is this location connected to Rudolf Těsnohlídek? On 22 December 1919, Těsnohlídek and two friends found an abandoned child here, an event that inspired him to launch the Christmas Tree of the Republic tradition in Brno.

Where does the name Těsnohlídkovo údolí come from? The valley was previously called Kozí žleb (Goat's Gorge). It was renamed after the memorial's unveiling, in honor of the writer connected to the site.

How do you reach the memorial on foot? Via a yellow-marked hiking trail that starts below the Resselova hájenka forester's lodge and ends in the Svitava valley at a footbridge on the red-marked trail.