Discover Kostelec U Křížků

Kostelec U Křížků combines a long history of settlement with evidence of its architecture, local history, and Jewish history. Notable themes include the Romanesque Rotunda of St. Martin, the Jewish cemetery, the historic Kalifáč area, and the present-day use of the fishpond and game reserve. If you are looking for a hotel in Kostelec U Křížků, these different facets can help you decide what to focus on during your stay.

Local History and the Rotunda

Settlement in Kostelec U Křížků dates back to the beginning of the first millennium. The Romanesque Rotunda of St. Martin was built at the beginning of the 12th century and contains valuable frescoes. As a subject of cultural history, it brings together Romanesque architecture and wall painting, offering a distinct way to explore the area's history.

Kalifáč is also part of the area's early history: considered the oldest part of the settlement, it served as a rest house for pilgrims in the early Middle Ages and lies around the cultural center and a restaurant. A local church was already a parish church in 1350. Another historical connection is the Salt Road, which passed through Kostelec U Křížků and linked the Mediterranean with the Baltic. Thus, local building and pilgrimage history sit alongside the history of a long-distance route.

Jewish Cemetery

The Jewish cemetery in the northwestern part of the municipality is an important monument and covers 2,510 m². It contains around 100 old gravestones; the oldest legible gravestone dates from 1724. The cemetery served the Jewish communities of Michle and Kunratice. Its historical significance can therefore be understood both through the date of a specific gravestone and through its connection to the two communities.

Landscape and Present-Day Use

The Březka game reserve extends across several hectares within the cadastral area of Kostelec U Křížků. It is home to breeding herds of mouflon and fallow deer and is currently managed by VÚLHM Jíloviště–Strnady. The reserve is not open to the public; check local visitor information before planning a trip.

Kostelecký rybník lies in the southern part of the municipality and is currently used for fish farming. Together with the game reserve, it represents another side of the area: both sites are shaped by their respective uses—fish farming at the pond and the keeping of mouflon and fallow deer at the reserve.

Road Access

The road route follows the D1 motorway to the exit near Velké Popovice, then continues via Štiřín. In Želivec, cross the old Benešov road; Kostelec U Křížků is another 2 km away. Check the current route and road signs before setting off, as road conditions and signage may change. The waypoints provide a sequence to follow: from the D1 via Štiřín and Želivec to the final 2 km stretch.

Discover more destinations: Doubek, Dobřejovice, Kostelní Strimelice, Nová Ves, Dubiny, Brázdim, Drisy, Vyšehořovice

See the regional travel overview: Okres Praha-Východ.