Old churches in the Nepomuk Highlands
Cycling trip from Nepomuk to Plánice and back.
You can take a cycling trip from Nepomuk and get to know the beauty of the local countryside and the villages along the border of the Pilsen and Klatovy regions. A moderate trail of 41 kilometres will take you south from Nepomuk through the Kákov-Plánice Ridge Nature Park. Apart from the picturesque villages and unspoiled countryside, you will also see several church monuments, for example, the Romanesque Rotunda of St. John the Baptist and the Baroque pilgrimage Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, designed by K.I. Dientzenhofer.
Trail description:
Nepomuk – follow the road past Šibenice (Gallows) Hill in the direction of Kozlovice – Kramolín – from Kramolín ride along the Myslívský Creek in the direction of Myslív – Myslív (orig. Romanesque Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary) – Nehodív – Štipoklasy – Račín – Zborovy (Rotunda of St. John the Baptist, which apart from Starý Plzenec is the only other rotunda in Southwest Bohemia) – Nicov (Baroque pilgrimage Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, designed by K.I. Dientzenhofer; the birthplace of the inventor František Křižík; a chateau, a plague column) – Lovčice (Baroque chateau) – from Lovčice continue in the direction of the Pohoří Range (0.5 km past Lovčice, turn left into the woods) and head for the Velký kámen (Big Rock) Natural Monument – Neurazy (the 19th century statue of St. John of Nepomuk, a wooden Renaissance belfry, the Art Nouveau Church of St. Martin with a Baroque Gothic alter, originally from the church on Zelená Hora) – Soběsuky (famous Angusfarm restaurant) – Nepomuk
Approximate length of the trip: 3 hours by bicycle, suitable for a day trip
Sights along the way:
Nepomuk: the Baroque Church of St. John of Nepomuk, designed by K.I. Dientzenhofer / the Museum of St. John of Nepomuk offering the optional tour of the Gothic Church of St. Jacob / the Municipal Museum and Gallery with exhibitions dedicated to Zelená Hora and the Black Barons (technical auxiliary battalions), Liberator B-24 J, the Cistercian monastery, Fairy Tale Puppets, and others / the Birthplace of the painter Augustin Němejc / the Exhibition of vintage cars and the gallery at the Zelená Hora Post Office / the Zelená Hora Chateau / the Pod Zelenou Horou Nature Trail / the Nepomuk Sightseeing Trail / the Art Nouveau U Zeleného Stromu Hotel / playgrounds and sports fields / swimming pools, etc.
Myslív: The Romanesque-Gothic Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary / Baroque presbytery / the Stehlík Nature Trail
Zborovy: The Romanesque Church of St. John the Baptist – the only rotunda in Southwest Bohemia other than in Starý Plzenec, preserved in the Baroque style
Nicov: The Baroque pilgrimage Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, designed by K.I. Dientzenhofer and constructed in 1717–1726, a graceful 15th century statue of the Virgin Mary in Nicov
Plánice: Museum – the birthplace of the famous electrical engineer and inventor František Křižík / the Marian Column with a statue of the Holy Trinity from the early 18th century / the chateau (not open to the public) / the Church of St. Blaise – originally a Gothic structure, later rebuilt in the Baroque style, built according to a design by K.I. Dientzenhofer / two statues of St. John of Nepomuk
Velký kámen (Big Rock): a natural monument made up of a rugged rock formation located in a beech forest; it is part of the Plánice Ridge Nature Park and there are several legends connected with this place
Neurazy: a wooden Renaissance belfry / the Art Nouveau Church of St. Martin with an altar in the Baroque Gothic style, originally from the church at Zelená Hora / a 19th century statue of St. John of Nepomuk / an outdoor cinema
Soběsuky: the remains of the Cistercian farmstead, later used as the Zelená Hora manor courtyard / the famous Angusfarm restaurant specializing in steaks from a local environmentally-friendly cattle farm
