Horšice: Church, Memorial Sites and Landscape

Horšice brings together architectural history, memorial sites, cycling routes and the landscape along the Zlatý potok. To find your way around, it is worth distinguishing the cycling routes by how they relate to the area.

Church and Architectural History

The Church of Saint Matthias dates back to a Gothic building from around 1300; it was later rebuilt in the Baroque style. The church is listed as an immovable cultural monument.

The Přeštice parish regularly holds Roman Catholic services at the church on Sundays. If you plan to attend a service, please check the current schedule beforehand, as times may change.

A large barn that is still standing is associated with the later fortress of Horšice. The rectangular, two-storey building measures about 14 × 21 m; its features include a mansard roof and massive buttresses. A mansard roof has several sloping roof sections, while buttresses are solid reinforcements that project from an exterior wall. By contrast, only subtle traces in the terrain remain of the older fortress.

The château in Újezd is a two-wing, single-storey building. The Chapel of Saint Anne stands on its eastern side; it was added later in the Baroque period.

Memorial Sites and Remembrance

The memorial to Gendarmerie Sergeant Josef Šlajs in Nevěrná was erected on 26 August 1945 by Tělovýchovná jednota Sokol Horšice. It commemorates Šlajs, who was seriously wounded on 19 May 1945 in the forest above Újezd while searching for German soldiers, and died of his injuries on 20 May 1945. The dates clearly distinguish between the place where he was wounded and his death the following day; the memorial itself stands in Nevěrná.

Another historic marker is the wayside cross U křížku on the road from Horšice to Luh. It was restored on 5 September 2000.

Šlajsova pětapadesátka also commemorates Josef Šlajs: the name refers to a 50 km memorial bike ride held on the anniversary of his death. Here, a specific occasion for remembrance coincides with a cycling tour.

Stream, Heights and Cycling Routes

The Zlatý potok flows through Horšice and divides the area into two parts. Along the stream lie the three highest wooded hills in Horšice: Nevěrná at 571 m, Holý vrch at 569 m and Jindřín at 535 m. The two highest elevations differ by only 2 m. Jindřín is also the site of a hillfort dating from the region’s prehistoric settlement.

Two routes with different geographical connections are described for cyclists. Cycling Route No. 2189 passes through Horšice along the Loupenská Háj–Horšice–Újezd–Kbelnice route. Cycling Route No. 2186, by contrast, runs through the administrative area of Horšice along the Radkovice–Vitouň–Luh route. The distinction is important for navigation: Horšice is named as a place on the route for No. 2189, while No. 2186 is associated with the administrative area. Check the current route signs before setting off.

Plan Your Journey

Horšice is served by ČSAD buses. As transport services may change, check the current timetable before travelling for specific departures.

Discover more destinations: Dnešice, Oplot, Mileč, Vrčeň, Chlumčany U Přeštic, Polanka, Chlumy, Střelice U Stoda

For the broader travel overview: Plzeň-Jih.