Křelovice: Forests and Architectural History

Visitors who choose Křelovice for a stay will find a forested setting and clear historical connections. Walks, a cycling route, and a blue-marked historical trail sit alongside a village laid out in a complete ellipse and individual buildings. Nature and architectural history offer different points of interest; the specific route layouts and building features can help you decide which interests to focus on during your stay.

Forests and Trails

The left bank of the Trnávka is less than a kilometer from Křelovice. The village is mostly surrounded by coniferous forests, 131 hectares of which are directly owned by the municipality. Křelovice is considered a good starting point for walks in the forests, where you can pick blueberries and mushrooms. Foraging is seasonal, so the time of year matters for this activity.

Reservoirs considered swimming destinations lie about two kilometers from Křelovice. Check current water and facility conditions before visiting.

Cycling Route 161 runs through Křelovice between Želiv and Senožaty, then continues via Onšov and Košetice. The blue-marked historical trail between Červená Řečice and Pelhřimov passes through Křelovice and continues to Košetice. Their routes can be distinguished by their markings and the places they connect: Route 161 is numbered as a cycling route, while the blue markings and named places help orient you on the historical trail. Before setting out, check the route number and conditions, as well as the historical trail’s current markings.

Architecture and Village Layout

The Stará pošta building complex, house number 26, was extended in 1856 with a long wing containing vaulted stables. By contrast, the Sýpka, house number 1, is a plastered, two-story granary with a rectangular floor plan and a gabled roof. It belongs to the buildings of an agricultural farmstead. The examples highlight different features: at Stará pošta, the extension and stable wing are the main points of interest; at the Sýpka, they are the granary’s form and its place on the farmstead.

Beyond its individual buildings, Křelovice is also shaped by its layout: it is completely elliptical and is called an Okrouhlice. This is considered the oldest type of Slavic village. The term refers to the overall shape of the village, not to an individual building.

Historical Traces in the Village

For 1379, the records list 40 residents and an area of 24 lánů in Křelovice. Among the villages in the Červená Řečice estate, Křelovice had the second-largest area. This ranking refers to land area, not the number of residents.

A damaged granite stone beside the central pond is said to commemorate a pub dispute that ended in a death. At the northeastern edge of the village, on the road to Senožaty, a stone memorial bears a raised relief of a paw cross. A statue of the Virgin Mary dating from 1901 stands in front of the chapel in Křelovice.

Discover more destinations: Sedlice, Kámen U Pacova, Hořepník, Vlásenice-Drbohlavy, Utechovice, Nová Cerekev, Veselá, Sudkuv Dul

For the broader travel overview: Okres Pelhřimov.