Bezděkov Nad Metují: Church and the Way of St. James

Bezděkov Nad Metují combines Baroque architectural history with pilgrimage traditions and local traces of technological and natural history. When choosing your destination, you can take different interests into account: the Church of St. Procopius, a section of the Way of St. James of your choice, the Haltýře, or the protected Bezděkovský Oak. An exhibition of historic machines and objects complements these themes. This brings sacred architecture, hiking, local history, and a pre-arranged exhibition visit together as distinct areas of interest.

Baroque architectural history and religious culture

The Baroque Church of St. Procopius was built between 1724 and 1727 at the initiative of Abbot Otmar Zinke of Broumov and designed by Kilián Ignác Dientzenhofer. It is part of the so-called Broumov Group of Churches and was declared a national cultural monument in 2022. This distinguishes its period of construction, architectural attribution, and later designation as a monument. The abbot’s initiative, Dientzenhofer’s design, and its membership in the group of churches offer three different perspectives on the same building: its origins, design, and cultural classification. This is a clear focus for your travel plans if you are interested in Baroque architectural history.

The bell of St. Procopius is also part of the town’s religious culture. It was acquired and consecrated in 1999 through a public collection, and it still rings from the church tower today. The construction period and monument status thus sit alongside a religious connection that can still be heard today.

The Way of St. James: a distant destination and sections of your choice

A Way of St. James marker in Bezděkov Nad Metují indicates that Santiago de Compostela is 3,321 km away. The figure connects the pilgrimage tradition with a faraway destination. At the same time, you do not have to walk the entire Way of St. James: visitors can choose any sections they like. Along the routes, you can collect stamps for your pilgrim passport, the Credencial. The marker and the stamps serve different purposes: the marker gives the distance to Santiago, while the stamps are collected in the pilgrim passport. If you would like to include the pilgrimage tradition in your travel plans, you can use this distant destination as a reference while also choosing a section to walk.

Haltýře and a marked hiking trail

The Haltýře, also known as Džbery, are another link to local history. They date from 1862 and were restored to their present form in 2000. The two dates mark different milestones: 1862 indicates their origin, while 2000 marks their later restoration in their present form. A red-marked hiking trail from Police nad Metují to Hronov passes by the Haltýře. This connects a local historic landmark with a specifically named hiking route between two towns. If you would like to combine hiking with history, you can visit the Haltýře as a point of interest along this trail. Check current trail conditions before setting out.

The protected Bezděkovský Oak

Another point of interest is the protected Bezděkovský Oak, a pedunculate oak. Its trunk circumference is 450 cm, it is 24 m tall, and its age is estimated at around 172 years. The tree has been protected since 1995. The age is explicitly an estimate; its dimensions and age may change slightly over time. The stated measurements are therefore distinct from the estimated age. The tree adds a nature-focused point of interest to the town’s architectural and pilgrimage history.

Exhibition of historic machines and objects

An exhibition of historic machines and objects is housed in part of an agricultural building. Visits can be arranged by appointment. If you would like to include this in your travel plans, arrange your visit in advance. Unlike a section of the Way of St. James, which you can choose for yourself, a visit to the exhibition requires an appointment. The exhibition complements the themes of architectural history, pilgrimage traditions, and nature with its own focus on local technological history.

Discover more destinations: Česká Metuje, Česká Čermná, Suchý Důl, Jasenná, Hermanice, Teplice nad Metují, Velké Petrovice, Velká Jesenice

For the broader travel overview: Náchod District.