Nížkov: Church, Ossuary and Cycling Routes

Nížkov’s Church of St. Nicholas and the ossuary next to it are central to the village’s history. Other points of interest include smaller monuments, a stone bridge, and cycling and nature attractions. If you choose a destination based on specific interests, you’ll find both architectural history and a described circular cycling route, as well as a natural formation on the Sázava.

Church and Ossuary: Several Historical Landmarks

The Church of St. Nicholas was built around 1245 in the Early Gothic style on the site of a wooden church. It was remodeled in the Baroque and Classicist styles in 1753–1754, when a Baroque nave was added. The two building phases reflect different architectural influences: the Early Gothic origins predate the later remodeling by several centuries.

A wooden Renaissance baptismal font from around 1600 adds an item from another period to the building’s history. The Nížkov ossuary stands beside the west façade of the church and dates from 1709. It contains four stacks of skulls and bones belonging to nearly 8,000 people. Examinations of seven samples from the ossuary found that six date to the Middle Ages, including the 13th century and the period from 1307 to 1363. The church and ossuary thus bring together different building phases, furnishings and historical dates.

Small Monuments and Local Landmarks

The wayside shrine on the road to Sázava dates from 1748 and is an example of folk Baroque. A statue of St. John of Nepomuk dating from 1869 stands in front of the old rectory. There are also several stone crosses around Nížkov, mostly dating from the 18th and 19th centuries. The crosses are therefore located as a group in the surrounding area, while the statue and wayside shrine each have their own specific location.

A stone bridge crosses the Nížkovský potok. It lies 100 metres below the village square in the direction of Polná and was built in 1889. In the area around Nížkov, Červený mlýn has a working water turbine that generates electricity. These examples add a structure for crossing the stream and a technical feature to the religious monuments.

Cycling Routes and Excursion Tips

The municipality’s excursion recommendation, “Rosička Lookout Tower – Cycling Route 19 – Beech Arboretum,” describes a 21.5-kilometre circular cycling route. It leads from Nížkov via Rosička, Sázava, Ronov, Olešenka and Buková, and back to Nížkov. The route goes up Rosičský kopec, which is 645 metres high and has a lookout tower at its summit. The named places and the return to Nížkov make the circular route easy to follow.

Another option is Cycling Route 4336 Dobronín–Nížkov–Sázava, which runs through the municipality’s cadastral area and connects Dobronín, Nížkov and Sázava. This gives you two different cycling options: a circular route that starts and ends in Nížkov, and a route connecting three named places. When choosing your route, you can decide whether you’re looking for a round trip starting and ending in Nížkov or a route through Dobronín, Nížkov and Sázava.

For walking and cycling excursion tips, there is a publication titled “Around Nížkov by Bike and on Foot.” It is available at the municipal office. If you’d like to use the booklet, check its availability locally.

Žlutá skála on the Sázava

Another natural attraction is Žlutá skála, a natural formation on the left bank of the Sázava. Žlutá skála lies about 1.5 kilometres upstream from Nížkov railway station.

Discover more destinations: Fryšava Pod Žákovou Horou, Bukov, Uhřínov, Vatín, Velke Mezirici, Hamry Nad Sázavou, Jimramov, Obyčtov

For the broader travel overview: Okres Žďár Nad Sázavou.