Křešice: Elbe Valley, pilgrimage church and Křemín

Křešice lies in the Elbe Valley on the right bank of the Labe, northeast of its course. Here, the Polabí Plain gives way to a hilly landscape adjoining the Bohemian Central Highlands. The pilgrimage church, views from Křemín, nature trails and cycle route offer different ideas for planning your stay.

Landscape, trails and activities

Holý vrch and the surrounding land in the cadastral area of Křešice have been protected as a nature reserve since 2013. Footpaths run along the northern and southern slopes, but no official trail leads all the way to the summit. Křemín, at 244 m, offers a different view of the landscape: all the districts of the municipality of Křešice can be seen from there.

The Naučná stezka skřítka Křemínka (Křemínek the Gnome Nature Trail) leads into the area around the municipality of Křešice near Litoměřice and up to Vrch Křemín. The trail covers local nature and history and leads to the remains of a military fortress from the Austro-Prussian War of 1866. An easy trail with eleven stops, information boards and interactive features, it is intended for children, families and schools. Trail details may change, so check the current route description before setting out.

The Naučná stezka Křešická výprava (Křešice Expedition Nature Trail) has a different focus: it introduces historical monuments along the route between Nučnice and Křešice in the Litoměřice area. The two trails therefore highlight different themes—nature and local history, including the fortress remains, on the one hand, and historical monuments along the route on the other.

The Labská stezka (Elbe Cycle Route) is also a useful guide for cyclists: the route passes through Křešice. Fishing is available as a leisure activity on the banks of the Labe, subject to local fishing regulations. The possible highlights of your trip therefore include both trails and scenery, as well as activities by the river.

Churches and local history

The Church of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary in Křešice is a Baroque religious building. It was built from 1708 to 1712 and extended from 1729 to 1732. You can reach the church on foot via paths from Encovanská ulice, Černá cesta or Bezručova Street. Trail conditions can vary with the seasons, so take this into account when planning your visit.

The spring next to the church is also part of its pilgrimage history: it was lined with masonry in 1703. In 1704, a church commission confirmed eighteen healings described as miraculous and associated with the site.

Vincenc Zahradník, a priest, philosopher and poet, is buried in the cemetery in Křešice. A plaque at the local primary school commemorates his work in Křešice. The church, spring and plaque thus shed light on different aspects of local history: religious architecture, pilgrimage and the memory of a historical figure.

The Early Baroque Church of the Holy Trinity stands in Zahořany. The complex includes the church, surrounded by a cemetery with a massive perimeter wall, a four-storey brick bell tower and a pentagonal cemetery chapel. Inside, Kramolín's figurative biblical paintings, three altars—including a rare Rococo altar—a Baroque high altar and a Baroque organ have been preserved. About 100 m northeast of the church, in the southern part of Zahořany, stands a brick wayside shrine dated 1668 and listed as a cultural monument.

Discover more destinations: Děčany, Polepy, Vražkov, Újezd, Hlinná, Černiv, Terezín, Náčkovice.

For the overview of the wider area: Litoměřice District.