Chotěšov U Vrbičan: Church, History and Routes

Chotěšov U Vrbičan can be understood through its church history and practical transport and route information. The Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and the rectory complex at house No. 37 are central to the history of the village. For planning your trip, rail and bus connections, as well as walking routes and the option of a return journey on the U10, are also important. This will help you decide whether the historical sites and route options suit your stay.

Church and Local History

The earliest written record of Chotěšov dates back to 1057. In 1144, King Vladislaus I gave Chotěšov to the newly founded Premonstratensian convent in Doksany. The Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary was first mentioned in a written record in 1352 as property of the Doksany convent. The first written record of the village therefore predates the first written mention of the church.

Between 1730 and 1737, the church was completely rebuilt. On 15 August 1737, the day the new church was consecrated, a procession brought the Madonna of Chotěšov, a Gothic wooden statue of the Virgin Mary, from the church in Libochovice to Chotěšov. The parish of Chotěšov was re-established in 1852.

Two practical points are important when visiting the church: regular services are not held there, and the church is not accessible to visitors with disabilities. Check the current access arrangements before your visit, as they may change.

The rectory complex at house No. 37 includes the rectory, a barn with a stable, another barn, and the gardener’s house. It also includes the rectory garden and a front garden, as well as a gate, a boundary wall with a small wicket gate, and a garden gate. The built-up area of Chotěšov and its immediate surroundings are also designated as an area with archaeological finds.

Getting There and Planning Routes

Regional railway line No. 114 from Lovosice to Louny and Žatec runs through the western part of the administrative area of the municipality of Chotěšov; Chotěšov pod Hazmburkem railway stop is located there. Regular bus services connect Chotěšov with Lovosice and Libochovice, as well as with Litoměřice and Libochovice. Check the current timetables before travelling.

If you are planning a hike or bike ride, take the local route situation into account: neither a hiking trail nor a cycle route passes through Chotěšov. The nearest hiking trail is marked red and goes around Chotěšov to the west, through the southern area near Libochovice, and on to Doksany in the east. Check the route before setting out.

On the U10 excursion on the Švestková dráha, a return journey from Třebenice via Chotěšov, Vrbičany, and Siřejovice to Lovosice is possible along its own route. The distance is about 15 km. This return journey is an option, not a required part of the excursion; check the latest service information before travelling.

Discover more destinations: Lovosice, Hlinná, Třebívlice, Záluží U Roudnice Nad Labem, Klapý, Žitenice, Petrikovice, Ctiněves

For the broader travel overview: Litoměřice District.