Chotovice: Church, views and hiking trails

Chotovice brings together several reasons to visit: the Church of St. Procopius and its views, marked hiking routes, a restored stone cross, and local cultural and community events. These attractions appeal to different interests, from landscapes and nature to local history and events. The distinctions below can help you choose what to focus on in Chotovice.

Church, views and local history

The Church of St. Procopius stands at an elevation of 480 metres. From the church, you can see across the Litomyšl Basin and towards the Orlické Mountains; in favourable weather, Sněžka is also visible. Two viewpoints with seating are located near the church. The church is a subsidiary church of the Roman Catholic parish of Nové Hrady u Skutče and has been a protected cultural monument since May 1958. This brings together its scenic views and its specific religious and heritage context.

The stone cross on “Hlavátky” is a landmark in the village centre. It was donated in 1890 by Václav Jůza, a retired farmer from house number 58. The cross was completely dismantled, cleaned and repaired; it has now been restored to its former condition. The church and the cross offer different points of interest: the church combines its elevated location with views, while the cross is a specific historical landmark in the village centre.

Hiking with different focuses

Marked hiking route 0448 runs from Litomyšl to Budislav and passes through Chotovice. A route overview last updated on 6 October 2011 lists “Chotovice – kostel” at 14.3 km and “Chotovice – náves” at 14.6 km as waypoints. The listed distances are 0.3 km apart and refer to their respective positions along the route. Check current trail markings and route conditions before setting out.

Another option is a nature walk along the Čapí educational trail in the Franze Hantschela Forest Park. You can learn about the life of storks and the surrounding area. By contrast, route 0448 focuses on the marked route and the named destinations of Litomyšl and Budislav. The two hiking options therefore differ in focus: following a route through settlements on the one hand, and nature and storks on the other.

Cultural activities and local events

The Church of St. Procopius is also used for cultural events in Chotovice. These include regular singing, musical performances by children and young people, and nativity scene exhibitions. These activities add specific cultural uses to the church’s religious role and protected-monument status.

The municipality held the Netradiční hasičská soutěž „O pohár obce Chotovice“ through its fifth edition. The competition included an unusual attack using an Avia vehicle, a classic 80-metre firefighting attack, and races in tubs; individual programme items may change. At the traditional „Rožnění prasátka“, three pork legs were roasted on a spit; dates and programmes vary. The two events therefore have clearly different focuses: one centres on competitions, while the other centres on spit-roasting. If you are planning your trip around an event, check the dates and programme in advance.

Discover more destinations: Sebranice, Kamenná Horka, Kunčina, Jarošov, Řídký, Tržek, Banín, Hartmanice U Poličky

For the regional travel overview: Svitavy District.