Veselíčko: Castle History and Cycling Routes

Veselíčko can be explored through several historical points of interest and two circular cycling routes. The castle, St. Anne’s Church and the family crypt mark different chapters in the village’s history; the routes, in turn, pass through or by the village. If you are looking for a hotel for a trip to Veselíčko, you can plan your stay around these interests: focusing on architectural history and the parkland, or taking a bike ride in which Veselíčko plays a different role. It is worth distinguishing the castle chapel from St. Anne’s Church and not treating the two routes as the same.

Castle Chapel and English Landscape Park

In 1798, Josef Bretfeld established a chapel dedicated to St. Anne in Veselíčko Castle. It was enlarged in 1801 and opened to ordinary worshippers. The establishment and enlargement were thus three years apart. Josef Bretfeld also laid out an English landscape park at Veselíčko Castle and below the pond dam. These two locations place the grounds both by the castle and below the dam. The chapel and park represent different historical themes—religious use and designed landscape—and offer a glimpse into the village’s earlier history. The chapel, established in 1798, predates the family crypt, which was not completed until 11 August 1892; St. Anne’s Church also belongs to a later period than the chapel.

St. Anne’s Church and Religious Memorials

St. Anne’s Church in Veselíčko is another point of interest, distinct from the castle chapel. It was built in 1851 and consecrated from 9 to 11 September 1854. The year of construction and the consecration mark separate stages. In front of the church are two sandstone statues: St. John of Nepomuk and St. Erasmus the Martyr. A cross bearing the crucified Christ, dated 1910, also stands in front of the church. At the church site, these two named sandstone figures stand alongside a cross with its own date. The church therefore offers a different historical point of reference from the chapel in the castle: its construction and consecration dates fall in the 19th century, while the chapel was established as early as 1798.

Family Crypt in the Castle Grounds

The family crypt of the Nádherný lords, Knights of Borutín, is located in the castle grounds. It was completed on 11 August 1892 and is a cultural monument in the Písek region. The crypt adds a later historical point of reference to the castle’s history. Together with the chapel, it helps place the development from the late 18th to the late 19th century: the chapel was established in 1798, and the crypt was completed in 1892. Both form part of the castle’s historical context, but represent different periods and functions.

Two Circular Cycling Routes with Different Connections to the Village

There are also two named routes to distinguish for a bike ride. The 86-kilometre “Cykloturistický okruh regionem Milevsko” circular cycling route passes through Veselíčko; Veselíčko Castle is listed as a stop along the way. The “Vesele ke Smutné” circular cycling route passes through Veselíčko. The practical difference for planning your rides lies in the role of the village: on the first route, the castle is a designated stop, while the second route runs through Veselíčko. The starting point for “Vesele ke Smutné” can be reached by car or bus. Check the latest route details before your bike ride, as information about the route may change. These routes offer two different ways to include Veselíčko in a cycling trip, while the castle, church and crypt are the village’s historical points of interest.

Discover more destinations: Cerveny Ujezdec, Božetice, Ražice, Milevsko, Sepekov, Kostelec Nad Vltavou, Vojníkov, Jetětice

Go to the regional travel overview: Okres Písek.