Chotětov: Church of St. Procopius, Art and Cycling Route

Chotětov offers specific points of interest for a trip focused on architectural history and art: the Church of St. Procopius, several chapels, a Baroque sculpture group and the Boží muka wayside shrine. There is also a cycling route through the Lower Jizera region that reaches Husovo náměstí. This gives you different factors to weigh when planning your trip: Which buildings and works of art interest you, and does the cycling route described fit with your journey?

The Church of St. Procopius and its building history

The Church of St. Procopius stands on the village square in the center of the municipality. A change in ground level at its location shapes the appearance of the square. The sequence of its construction phases also offers insight into local history: the church was built in the Gothic style around 1546 on the site of an older church. The bell tower was built in 1759–1760; in 1773, the church was remodeled in the Baroque style. The construction of the tower and the remodeling should therefore be understood as separate events.

In addition to the church, the protected ensemble includes the Chapel of the Holy Cross and an enclosing wall with gates, stairs and niche chapels. The protection therefore covers several components, not just the church building. This perspective draws attention to the architectural complex as a whole: in this ensemble, the church grounds also include the enclosing wall and the other specifically associated structures.

A niche chapel stands southeast of the church, aligned with the cemetery wall. It is a simple rectangular brick structure. There is also a chapel with a spring next to the church; it dates from 1819. The descriptions distinguish between two types of chapel: the niche chapel is characterized by its location and form, while the other chapel is distinguished by its spring and date. This means the local building history is not limited to the church building alone.

Sculpture group and wayside shrine

The sculpture group The Coronation of the Virgin Mary stands near the village square. The Baroque work dates from the 18th century, is made of natural-colored sandstone and is about five meters high. Its approximate height gives you a sense of the group’s scale; its material and date also indicate its character and period.

Another place of artistic interest is Boží muka on the southern edge of Chotětov. The polygonal masonry wayside shrine stands at the crossroads of the roads to Bezno and Jizerní Vtelno and is a place of devotion dating from the late 17th century. Compared with The Coronation of the Virgin Mary, the two works differ in form and location: one is a wayside shrine on the southern edge of the village, the other a sculpture group near the village square. They also date from different periods: one is from the late 17th century, the other from the 18th century.

Cycling to Chotětov

For cyclists, the route through the Lower Jizera region gives a specific way to reach Chotětov: from the Hřivno signpost, it follows Route 8145 to Husovo náměstí. This provides a named starting point, a route number and a destination to help with orientation. You can compare this sequence with your own approach and consider the route as a separate planning factor alongside the buildings and works of art. While the buildings are distinguished primarily by their form, location and date, the cycling route specifies a particular connection to Chotětov.

Discover more destinations: Předměřice Nad Jizerou, Klášter Hradiště Nad Jizerou, Brezina, Hrdlořezy, Krnsko, Mnichovo Hradiště, Chudíř, Strenice

For the overview of the wider region: Okres Mladá Boleslav.