Újezd Svatého Kríze: Church, Castle History and Cycling Route

Újezd Svatého Kríze combines church architecture and local history with a cycling route that runs through the town. If you are planning a hotel stay, you can focus on historical topics or cycling. The Church of Povýšení sv. Kříže, the adjoining cemetery and the former castle offer different cultural and historical points of interest; Kocovy kameny and Route 2281 add further options.

Church, Rectory and Cemetery

The Church of Povýšení sv. Kříže is a High Gothic building that was remodelled primarily in the Neoclassical style and again at the end of the 19th century. The original vault and fragments of wall paintings have been preserved in the presbytery. The first written references to the church’s existence date from 1352. The state of preservation varies among the interior details: the vault survives as an original structural feature, while the wall paintings are preserved only in fragments.

The terms describe different aspects: High Gothic characterises the church building, Neoclassical the predominant style of the remodelling, and Early Baroque the rectory. These architectural references therefore stand alongside one another, but the church and rectory are not the same building. The Early Baroque rectory, dating from the second half of the 17th century, stands beside the church. The cemetery adjoins the church; it contains numerous gravestones of the area’s former German residents. These add a perspective on the former population to the architectural history.

The dates refer to different things: 1352 marks the first written references to the church, the second half of the 17th century the rectory’s construction period, and the 1860s the period when the Mánes family were frequent visitors. The year 1978 marks the castle’s demolition by explosives. This distinguishes written records, construction dates, former use and destruction.

The Former Castle

The former castle was surrounded by a park. In the 1860s, Josef, Quido and Amálie Mánes were frequent guests at the castle and made numerous drawings there. After a border guard unit had vandalised the castle, it was demolished by explosives in 1978. The artistic connection is therefore part of the building’s history; the castle is not a surviving structure. This historical focus is distinct from the church architecture and its preserved interior details.

Rock Inscriptions and Cycling Route

Near Újezd Svatého Kríze are Kocovy kameny, groups of rocks bearing inscriptions carved by hunting parties. They lie below Velký Zvon, which is 862 m high. Check the specific access conditions locally. For cyclists, the 31 km Route 2281 passes through the town and connects Nemanice with Bělá nad Radbuzou. The distance refers to the entire route, not just the section within the town. Check the route’s condition before setting out.

Discover more destinations: Otov, Luženičky, Kdyne, Ceska Kubice, Neuměř, Krchleby, Pasečnice and Pelechy.

For the broader travel overview: Okres Domažlice.