Kočí: Church, Firefighting Museum and Covered Bridge

Kočí offers several points of interest to help you plan a stay: the Church of St. Bartholomew the Apostle, a firefighting museum and a covered wooden bridge. Those interested in history and architecture will find specific topics to explore, as will anyone looking for a cycling route that passes through the village. Details about the sights, routes and practical visiting conditions can help you decide what to see.

Church, murals and bells

The Church of St. Bartholomew the Apostle was built in 1397 at the expense of Queen Žofie. In 2010, it was added to the list of national cultural monuments. Wall paintings were discovered in the nave in 1899. These dates reflect the historical context of different features of the church: the murals date from a later period in its history than the construction of the building.

The wooden bell tower is also one of the features described. It houses two bells: the older is dedicated to St. Bartholomew and the younger to St. Lawrence.

The pilgrimage Mass is celebrated on the Sunday around August 24. If you would like to plan your trip around this date, check the current date in advance. This will help you distinguish between a visit focused on history and a stay centered on the religious occasion.

The covered bridge and the firefighting museum

The 18-meter-long covered bridge spans the wetland between the church and the road. The wooden bridge connects the church with the village and is one of the oldest surviving covered wooden bridges in Czechia.

The Kočí Firefighting Museum displays historical and contemporary firefighting artifacts. The objects mentioned include helmets, axes, hoses and uniforms. The Kočí Firefighting Museum has more than 524 m² of covered exhibition space. Its collection offers several specific themes to explore during your visit, from protective clothing to equipment used in firefighting.

Visits to the firefighting museum are possible at any time by prior telephone arrangement. So call ahead to arrange your visit before adding the museum to your plans. This lets you take the stated access requirement into account when planning your day, without assuming fixed opening hours.

Cycling routes through and from Kočí

The 21-kilometer “Za loutkami do Chrudimi” cycling route passes through Kočí. The 51-kilometer “Na Chlumek a Košumberk” route includes Kočí as one of its stops. The stated total lengths differ by 30 kilometers.

A description of the “Cyklovýlet Kočí, Slatiňany, Chrudim” cycling trip published in 2011 leads from Kočí to Slatiňany along a local road. From there, the described continuation follows a blue-marked hiking trail along the Chrudimka River to Chrudim. Since the route description dates from 2011, check the current route and trail conditions before setting out. This keeps the historical route description separate from the question of what the route is like today.

Getting there and practical information

The “Kočí,,kostel” bus stop is in fare zone 702. Check the current timetable for your trip, as schedules may change. If you are traveling by car, the parking information lists spaces at the church or municipal office. This information was last updated in 2022, so check the parking options before you travel.

When choosing accommodation, you can weigh up the focus of your stay: the church’s architecture and furnishings, the bridge, the firefighting museum or one of the named cycling routes. If you plan to visit the museum or attend the pilgrimage Mass, take into account the stated arrangement requirement or date, as applicable. This lets you tailor your stay to the specific interests that bring you to Kočí.

Discover more destinations: Žumberk, Nabočany, Třibřichy, Ronov Nad Doubravou, Prosec, Jenišovice U Chrudimi, Skuteč-Borek, Úhřetice.

For the broader travel overview: Okres Chrudim.