At the center of Želenice is a church complex comprising the single-nave Church of Saint James the Elder, a wooden bell tower and the wall surrounding the cemetery. The church, bell tower and wall are protected monuments. The architectural history of the site spans several periods: the church has Romanesque origins and underwent later alterations; the bell tower adds its own distinct form to the complex. For travelers who consider culture and architecture when choosing where to stay, Želenice offers a clear focal point.

Church and architectural history

The Church of Saint James the Elder was originally Romanesque and dates from the 12th century. It was later altered in the Gothic period and in the 17th and 19th centuries. This sequence helps distinguish the Romanesque origins from the later alterations: the building combines several historical phases. A comprehensive restoration in 2013 enabled closer examination of the largely preserved Romanesque nave, the elongated main space of the church. Its masonry consists of alternating courses of sandstone and marl blocks. Thus, alongside its date, the sequence of materials is another specific feature of this nave.

The term “single-nave” describes a church space with one main nave and provides further guidance about its architectural form. It can be distinguished from the chronological sequence: the term refers to the floor plan, while the Romanesque origins and later alterations place the building in its architectural history.

The wooden bell tower

The wooden bell tower stands in the center of the municipality and, together with the Church of Saint James the Elder, is considered one of its landmarks. It probably dates from the 16th century and is regarded as a relatively rare example of a Renaissance bell tower. The hexagonal wooden tower stands on a stone base and has a mansard roof. Two bells hang in the tower, cast in 1581 and 1613. The casting dates of the bells and the probable date of the tower are distinct historical reference points.

For the church, the focus is on its Romanesque origins and alterations spanning several centuries; for the tower, its Renaissance classification, wooden construction and two bells define its place in the complex. This distinction helps visitors consider the church and bell tower as separate architectural subjects within the protected complex.

Food culture and getting there

A dated glimpse of a local culinary event was the invitation to Řížkobraní on August 29, 2026. It asked participants to bring schnitzels, pork belly, desserts, pickled cucumbers or spreads to share and taste together.

For travel by bus, a municipal notice from May 2026 listed route 858 in draft timetables open for comment as a connection between Želenice, Koleč and Libčice nad Vltavou. Check the current timetable before your trip.

Discover more destinations: Zvoleněves, Zichovec, Malíkovice, Knovíz, Kmetiněves, Vrbičany, Stehelčeves, Libochovičky.

View the wider travel overview: Kladno District.