Jankovice: Religious Buildings, Bats and Hody

Jankovice lies in the Chřiby valley and combines a clearly defined landscape with religious buildings, hiking trails and folk culture. The Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary is a cultural monument and is also associated with bat populations. A historic tower clock, a chapel with a nearby spring and seasonal cultural events also offer you specific topics to consider when planning your stay.

Location and Hiking Trails

Jankovice lies in the Chřiby valley on both sides of the Jankovský potok and extends from southeast to northwest. The valley and the stream are two concrete reference points for orientation; the southeast-to-northwest direction also describes the extent of the village. This lets you understand its location both in relation to the landscape and by the direction in which the village extends.

Hiking trails from the directions of Kostelany, Salaš and Halenkovice pass through Jankovice. These three directions make hiking a distinct starting point for planning your trip, alongside the religious buildings and their history. When choosing a route, you can first consider which direction suits your plans.

Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary

The Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary was built from 1839 to 1841. On 21 November 1841, Josef Berdhauer, Dean of Uherské Hradiště, consecrated it. It has been protected as a cultural monument since 3 May 1958; its register number is ÚSKP 27088/7-3338. The construction period, consecration and monument protection mark three distinct stages in the building’s history: its construction, its religious consecration and its later protected status.

Two bat species are part of the church’s natural heritage. Its roof spaces are home to a regionally significant summer colony of greater mouse-eared bats (Myotis myotis); the tower is inhabited by serotine bats (Eptesicus serotinus). The church is also part of the European Site of Community Importance “CZ0723750 Jankovice – kostel”.

Chapel of Saint Anthony and Spring

The Chapel of Saint Anthony is Jankovice’s second religious building. Local resident Josef Zgarbík built it in 1906. It stands beyond the village on a road leading farther into the Chřiby; there, the forest encloses the valley on both sides. The chapel thus brings together local history and its position on the route into the Chřiby.

A spring is located near the chapel. The year 1912 is engraved in its stone vault. You can reach the spring from a field path via a worn track. Its surface may change seasonally. When planning this visit, both the described approach and the visible inscription in the stone vault are therefore relevant.

Visits and Cultural Events

The historic Baroque tower clock can be viewed year-round if you arrange an appointment by phone in advance. A separate visitor offer concerned the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary: it took part in the Otevřené brány programme for the first time in 2025. From 1 May to 30 September, it was open to visitors free of charge as part of the programme; free guided tours and tours with commentary were offered. For a later visit, check the current programme details.

The traditional krojované Hody in Jankovice are part of the Hody season in August. If this custom affects your travel dates, check the specific dates in advance. One dated example is the Slovácké krojované hody, a folk tradition event held on 16 and 17 August 2025 at the Areál Březičky in Jankovice. The August season and this specific event date offer different guidance: the season indicates the period, while the example gives the dates of a single edition.

Discover more destinations: Suchá Loz, Modrá, Kněžpole, Lopenik, Dolní Němčí, Salaš U Velehradu, Uherské Hradiště, Bánov.

For the wider travel overview: Uherské Hradiště District.