A surviving fragment of the crossing pier is ten metres high and locates the monastery church of Klášterní Skalice on the northern side of the complex. This specific architectural feature offers a glimpse into the site's monastic and architectural history.

The history of the Cistercian monastery

The monastery was the most recent foundation of this order in the Bohemian lands. It remained unfinished and was destroyed during the Hussite period. These three aspects place the site's history in context from different perspectives: its affiliation with the order establishes the historical framework, its status as the most recent foundation locates the monastery within the Bohemian lands, and its destruction marks its end. At the same time, the unfinished building makes clear that the monastery's history is not that of a completed complex.

Chapel and architectural evidence

The former monastery chapel of Panny Marie was attached to the north side of the chateau and served as its chapel. Its Neo-Gothic redesign particularly affected the east façade. The collapsed walls of the chateau or monastery chapel of Panny Marie were also rebuilt. Together, these architectural features illustrate the different functions and changes associated with the chapel: its former connection to the monastery, its use as the chateau chapel and its redesign.

The crossing pier offers another clue to the location of the monastery church: at ten metres high and situated on the northern side, it helps locate the church within the complex. The surviving architectural feature and the details about the chapel thus complement each other, helping you picture the different parts of the monastic and chateau complex.

Statues and stone monuments

The statue “sv. Jana Nepomuckého” is the work of an unknown artist from around 1750. Together with the statues “Panna Maria”, “svatá Anna” and “svatý Prokop”, it forms a symbolic protective cross. Its arms intersect in the area of the former monastery. The form is thus created through the interplay of several figures and their spatial arrangement.

Another monument is the “Boží muka”: a damaged fragment made of red sandstone from Nučice, with its entire upper section missing. The two descriptions represent different forms: here, a symbolic protective cross formed by four statues; there, a single monument in fragmentary condition. Both the statue “sv. Jana Nepomuckého” and the “Boží muka” date from around 1750.

Kouřimka and regional trails

The Kouřimka also helps locate the former monastery complex: its riverbed bounds the complex on the west side. Rocky cliffs rise above the stream. The watercourse and rock formations are concrete features of the local landscape; the western boundary also provides a more precise reference point for the former complex.

A green-marked regional route connects Pečky and Kouřim via Dobřichov, Radim, Chotutice, Vrbčany, Žabonosy and Klášterní Skalice. A green-marked hiking trail from Pečky to Kouřim also passes through Klášterní Skalice. The intermediate villages provide more detailed guidance along the regional route; the hiking trail describes the connection between its two endpoints. If you plan to take either route, check the current course and markings locally.

Discover more destinations: Volárna, Červené Pečky, Vrátkov, Kouřim, Lipec, Starý Kolín, Grunta, Pňov-Předhradí

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