Poschetzau: History, Chapel and Cycling Routes

Poschetzau (Božičany) combines local history with specific cultural and landscape highlights. The main attractions are the Baroque Chapel of St. Michael, the memorial to the victims of the First World War, architecturally interesting buildings and traces of mining. For your travel plans, there are also Park Osmóza, two cycling routes of different lengths, and a fishing competition held every year in May. You can tailor your stay to your interests in architectural history, the landscape or outdoor activities.

Cultural History and Architecture

Božičany was founded before 1359 as a Waldhufendorf, a type of forest-clearing village, along a stream. A later landmark in the village’s history is the memorial to the victims of the First World War. It was erected in 1933, based on a design by Willy Heinz, on the village square in the town centre, on the left bank of the Černý potok. The settlement pattern and the memorial site thus point to different periods in the village’s history.

The Chapel of St. Michael marks an earlier period: the Baroque chapel was built in the second half of the 18th century using funds from the faithful and the church. On 29 October 1992, it was added to the Czech Republic’s state list of cultural monuments. Its construction and subsequent listing are two distinct dates in its history. By comparison, the memorial, erected in 1933, belongs to a different era.

The architectural highlights extend beyond the chapel. Villa No. 66 is an architecturally interesting building from the 19th or 20th century, with Art Nouveau features. Its date therefore falls within a broad period; at the same time, its stylistic features offer a specific perspective on the building. Another building in courtyard No. 10 is also singled out as particularly interesting. Together, the villa and the building in courtyard No. 10 provide further points of interest for exploring the village’s architecture.

Mining, Park and Cycling Routes

Park Osmóza in Božičany is beside a pond on the site of a former kaolin mine. A 2026 local tourism publication describes it as a natural oasis. Beside the water, the park offers a shaded spot to stop and rest. The former mining site forms part of the landscape context; the pond and shaded area define the described resting place. Another visible trace of mining is the small depression of the Sírius mine, still visible to the left of the road to Nová Role. Poschetzau thus has a park on a former mining site and a visible mine depression as two distinct landscape features.

There are two cycling routes to consider. The 11 km Vintířov–Chodov–N. Role cycling route runs through the northern part of the Božičany cadastral area. The approximately 16.5 km circular route “Klidný okruh podhůřím” runs between Nová Role, Božičany and Chodov, mainly along quiet roads and cycle paths. A 2026 local tourism publication describes this circular route; route conditions may change. The distances give you a concrete basis for comparison when planning, without specifying a particular journey time. Check the route conditions locally before setting off.

Fishing Competitions in May

MO ČRS Božičany holds fishing competitions on the local ponds every year in May. If you would like to plan your stay around this event, check the date for the relevant year before travelling. This lets you take the annual event tradition into account when planning, without assuming a specific event date.

Discover more destinations: Dallwitz, Gängerhof, Uitwa, Großfürwitz, Gottesgab, Schneidmühl, Stiedra), Schwarzenbach

For the regional travel overview: Karlovy Vary Region.