Arnolec: Chapels, Nature and a Cycling Route

Arnolec offers visitors several specific points of interest: chapels from different centuries, memorial sites connected with local history, a designated protected area and a cycling route described in detail. If you are looking for a hotel in Arnolec, consider whether architectural history, nature conservation or cycling should shape your stay.

Chapels and Architectural History

St. Wendelin’s Chapel in Arnolec is Neo-Romanesque and was built in 1874. Neo-Romanesque refers to a later revival of Romanesque architectural forms. St. Anne’s Chapel was built in the 1670s and 1680s and is the older historical landmark. The restorations also took place at different times: St. Wendelin’s was restored between 2004 and 2007, while St. Anne’s Chapel was fully restored in 2019. St. Anne’s Chapel stands in the fields about half a kilometre east of Arnolec. The style, date of construction and restoration offer different points of comparison between the two chapels.

Memorial Sites and the History of the Roads

The memorial plaque to Josef Toufar was unveiled on 20 October 1991. The penance cross known as “Baba” stands on the road between Stáj and Arnolec, about one kilometre from Arnolec. According to local tradition, it commemorates the violent death of a foot messenger on the old route from Bohemia to Moravia. The plaque is associated with a precisely specified date of unveiling, while the story of the cross has been passed down as local tradition. The old trade route called Uherská ran through Arnolec. A frequently travelled route was also known as “U kamenného kříže.” These road names add a connection to the history of travel to the memorial sites.

Landscape and Nature Conservation

Arnolec lies in a gentle hollow below the wooded Arnolecké hory highland. Rychtářský rybník is a protected area designated as PP in the cadastral area of Arnolec. The area is home to a large population of the specially protected plant species Puchýřka útlá (Coleanthus subtilis). Two different aspects of nature can therefore be seen side by side: the landscape around Arnolec and the protected plant population in the named protected area.

Cycling Route and Orientation

The cycling route “Přejezd Arnoleckých hor,” described in 2022, passes through Arnolec and Stáj before reaching the ridge of the Arnolecké hory highland. Road and trail conditions can vary; check them before setting out. The route description also names Josef Toufar’s birthplace in Arnolec as a tourist attraction. An image of the Holy Trinity can be found on the way to the local hills. Together, the route and these named landmarks offer different points of reference for planning a trip, although they do not describe the same section of the route.

Highlights for Your Stay

The themes relevant to your travel plans can be clearly distinguished: the chapels and memorial sites represent architectural and local history, Rychtářský rybník represents nature conservation, and the cycling route described in 2022 runs through Arnolec and Stáj to the ridge. This lets you decide which theme should shape your stay before looking for a hotel.

Discover more destinations: Dlouhá Brtnice, Stará Říše, Milíčov, Plandry, Kněžice, Boršov, Knínice, Ždírec.

View the broader travel guide: Okres Jihlava.