Střížov

Střížov has been mentioned in historical sources since the second half of the 13th century; records include, among others, the years 1263 and 1274. Notable cultural and historical features include the Church of St. Martin, historic farmsteads, a wayside shrine, and recurring customs. There is also a view from a path to the southwest and a circular cycling route that passes through the town. The range thus extends from individual architectural features to a longer cycling route.

The Church of St. Martin and its architectural history

The church dedicated to St. Martin is a protected historic building with Early Gothic origins. Its features include an Early Gothic pointed-arch portal and remnants of medieval wall paintings. The older chancel is Gothic; the nave was re-vaulted in 1660. The building thus brings together different periods: older Gothic elements and the later-renewed nave vault. The church also contains a Gothic bell dating from 1418. The tombstone of Karel Kořenský z Terešova, who died in 1619, is also preserved there.

Farmsteads and wayside shrine

Farmstead Třetinů No. 17 is notable for its gables. Late Baroque statues of saints once stood on the gable of farmstead Otrubů No. 8. The two houses offer different architectural points of interest: the gables at Třetinů and the former religious decoration at Otrubů.

The wayside shrine of the Virgin Mary stands almost at the edge of Střížov, on the road toward Komařice. The shrine was still standing in 2021. Its construction is thought to date to the second half of the 19th century or the beginning of the 20th century. This is an approximate dating, not an exact construction year.

Annual customs and the Želno Valley

Střížov holds the annual Bartolomějská pouť (St. Bartholomew’s pilgrimage) at the Church of St. Martin. The pilgrimage was moved there from the former Church of St. Bartholomew in the nearby Želno Valley. The former church building in Želno was completed in 1679 and was sometimes referred to as a branch church of the parish Church of St. Martin in Střížov. The tradition of moving the pilgrimage thus connects the annual celebration with its former church location in the valley. Another annual tradition in Střížov is the “masopustní koleda” (Shrovetide caroling).

In the Želno Valley, near Střížov, about 200 metres away, the spring of St. Barbara rises beneath a wooden shelter. The valley thus offers another landscape feature alongside the town’s churches and buildings.

Viewpoint and cycling route

A path from Střížov in a southwesterly direction offers a view stretching from the Novohradské hory to Blanský les, including Kleť and part of the Šumava. The panorama thus takes in several named mountain and landscape areas.

Střížov is also a useful landmark for cyclists: the cycling loop through Doudlebsko and Novohradsko passes through the town between Doudleby and Lomec. The entire loop is 110 kilometres long, moderate to challenging, and suitable for trekking and mountain bikes. These details refer to the route as a whole; seasonal conditions may vary.

Stops for planning

As of 1 September 2024, “Střížov” and “Střížov k ozdravovně” were stops on route 123. Check current departures before travelling.

Discover more destinations: Staré Hodějovice, Vlachnovice, Kamenný Újezd, Lipnice, Diwtschitz, Ostrolovský Újezd, Hosty, Vráto.

For the regional travel overview: Okres České Budějovice.