Kojice: Church, history and views of the Elbe

Kojice brings together distinctive historical features and a strong connection to the Elbe landscape. The town lies at the northernmost foothills of the Železné hory mountains. This offers visitors different ways to explore Kojice: the Romanesque Church of St Peter and Paul, fortifications from the former fortress complex, and the landscape along the river. This combination particularly appeals to travellers who want to consider local history and natural surroundings together.

The Elbe and the landscape around Kojice

The northwestern part of Kojice offers views of the Elbe. A visit to Kojice can also be combined with a visit to the meanders of the Old Elbe. These offer two different perspectives: the view of the Elbe is associated with one part of the town, while the meanders can be included in your plans as an additional place to visit. Visitors who enjoy alternating between local history and the landscape during their stay can treat these as separate areas of interest.

The Romanesque Church of St Peter and Paul

The Church of St Peter and Paul is a single-nave Romanesque building made of unplastered sandstone. “Single-nave” describes a building with one main nave; the term “Romanesque” places its architecture in a historical context, while the unplastered sandstone is a specific material feature. A fortress and this church were built in Kojice at the end of the 12th century. The church therefore dates from the same early period as the fortress, although the two buildings illustrate different aspects of the town’s history.

A notable detail can be seen on the north wall beside the triumphal arch: a tall depiction of Saint Christopher with the infant Jesus on his left shoulder. It dates from the 1260s to the 1270s. The depiction therefore belongs to a later period than the church’s construction at the end of the 12th century. There are two distinct historical dates: the construction of the building and a later-dated image.

The fortress complex and a historic route

Fortifications have been preserved on the southern and southwestern sides of the former fortress complex. The southern rampart reaches a height of up to four metres. This measurement refers to that rampart; it does not apply generally to all the preserved fortifications. When comparing the surviving sections, it is therefore important to distinguish between the sides mentioned and the height specified only for the southern rampart.

The historic Salt Road is also part of the town’s history. It ran around Kojice and was also known as the Trstenická Route. The second name refers to the same historic route; it was not an additional road running alongside the Salt Road. The town’s history thus includes both architectural traces and a named historic transport route.

Excursions along field paths

A visit to Kojice can also be combined with excursions along field paths to neighbouring municipalities. These excursions offer a different focus from exploring the buildings: the emphasis is on routes to neighbouring municipalities rather than local history.

Discover more destinations: Strašov, Stojice, Dolany, Sezemice Nad Loučnou, Stéblová, Žáravice, Dašice, Přelouč.

For the broader travel overview: Okres Pardubice.