Biskupice: History and Landscape

When choosing Biskupice as a travel destination, it is worth taking a closer look at the town’s history and landscape. Local points of interest range from the prehistoric Hradisko Hrubé kolo to the castle and church, as well as statues and a memorial to the victims of the First World War. The stream, its forested catchment area and a high point add landscape details to the town’s history.

Prehistory and the Stream

The prehistoric Hradisko Hrubé kolo lies directly above Biskupice. The site forms an elongated ellipse measuring 80 by 90 metres, surrounded by a ditch. Its shape and scale make it a clear point of reference for the prehistoric past and distinguish it chronologically from the town’s later buildings.

The Biskupický potok flows through Biskupice and joins the Jevíčka about one kilometre west of the town. The stream is 5.25 kilometres long, and more than half of its catchment area is forested. Its length and the proportion of forest highlight different scales: one figure concerns the watercourse, while the other describes the area from which water flows into it.

Castle, Brewery and Church

Biskupice Castle was built from 1713 to 1716 on the site of an older fortress that had previously fallen into ruin. The castle is therefore part of a longer building history. The former fortress included a manor brewery, which brewed beer until 1870. This detail from the town’s economic history adds another use to its architectural history.

The late Baroque Church of Saints Peter and Paul replaced an older church and was consecrated in September 1776. Its furnishings include four altars with relics of saints, including John of Nepomuk and Wenceslas. The building’s history and its altars offer two different ways of approaching the church: its origins and the religious references within.

Statues and a Memorial Site

The restored statue of Saint John of Nepomuk stands in the village square near the fire station. Another historic figure is the statue of Saint Florian, which dates from around 1726. Both statues have their own connection to the town; the Florian statue also has an approximate date.

A memorial about six metres high next to the municipal office commemorates the victims of the First World War. Four plaques list the names of those killed in action and those who died from their wounds. At the top, the memorial features a male figure symbolising the struggle for freedom. Its purpose, name plaques and imagery offer different ways of understanding this memorial site.

High Point and Walking Route

At 550 metres above sea level, Kamenná hora is the highest point in the cadastral area of Biskupice. This high point adds another landscape reference to the stream and its forested catchment area.

The blue-marked walking route includes the Calvary of Jaroměřice, the ruins of Plankenberk Castle, the site of Hradisko Hrubé kolo and Biskupice; the distance to Biskupice is listed as 7.9 kilometres. Check the trail markings on site before following the route.

A Festival in Historical Perspective

The 27th edition of the Biskupické Kaléšek Slivovitz Festival took place on 4 October 2025. Together with the prehistoric Hradisko and the construction dates of the castle and church, it creates a timeline leading up to the 2025 festival.

Discover more destinations: Korouhev, Křenov, Příluka, Želivsko, Bohuňov, Květná, Vendolí, Hartmanice U Poličky.

For the broader travel overview: Svitavy District.