The flat Polabí Lowland and the combination of distinctive architectural and natural features give Chotěšice a clear character. The village was first mentioned on 26 September 1199; its history can be traced through a Baroque church, cemetery monuments and surviving farm buildings. There are also old trees, ponds and remnants of a floodplain forest. These features are not confined to the village centre: the settlements of Malá Strana and Nová Ves, which are administered by Chotěšice, have their own historical and landscape highlights.

Church and Cemetery: Architectural History on Site

The Church of the Sending of the Holy Apostles stands on elevated ground west of the village centre, on the road to Břístev, and forms a prominent feature in the landscape. The present Baroque church was built between 1746 and 1748; repairs followed in 1817–1820 and 1844. It has a single nave, a rectangular presbytery and a tower on the east side. The first historical mention in 1199 and the construction of the church refer to different points in time: the date associated with the village is not the construction date of the Baroque church building.

The protected church complex includes, in addition to the church, a mortuary chapel, the cemetery enclosure wall and the associated plots. The cemetery contains several fine sandstone tombs dating from the second half of the 19th century, mainly in its western section. This makes it possible to consider the architectural history and cemetery features as distinct aspects rooted in the same complex.

Historical Features in Other Settlements

There are other historical traces beyond the church complex. Several 19th-century farm buildings have been preserved in Chotěšice, along with a Crucifixion monument. In Malá Strana, a statue of the Virgin Mary dating from 1876 stands on a Neo-Gothic pedestal. In Nová Ves, there is a substantial stone cross depicting Christ, dating from 1845, timber house No. 5 from the early 19th century, and a two-room timber granary. The religious monuments and rural timber architecture offer different perspectives on the architectural history of the administered settlements.

Ponds, Trees and Floodplain Forest

The landscape can also be experienced at specific locations. The Smíchovský stream flows through Chotěšice. A pear tree on the dam of Vražda Pond is protected as a natural monument; two English oaks there are estimated to be about 300 years old. Near Nouzov, remnants of a natural floodplain forest can be found around Komárovský Pond. In Malá Strana, a pair of black poplars stands about 50 metres from Slatinka Pond. At Vražda, individual trees grow on the pond dam, while at Komárovský the remnants of the floodplain forest shape the character of the landscape.

The woods and ponds around Chotěšice are intensively used for fish farming and keeping waterfowl, so they are not suitable for swimming. If swimming is part of your plans, check local conditions in advance. Another local product is honey from the municipal apiary, which the municipality sells.

When planning your visit, it helps to consider the architectural and landscape features separately: the church and cemetery bring together several historical features, while the natural sites are spread across different ponds and settlements. This lets you make your choice based on the subjects that interest you, without confusing their locations.

Discover more destinations: Ostrá, Úmyslovice, Sadská, Velenka, Městec Králové, Všechlapy, Žitovlice, Krchleby.

For the broader travel overview: Okres Nymburk.