The church complex of St. James and the adjoining cemetery form a valuable site and a prominent feature of Dolni Lanov’s landscape. Those interested in cultural history will find several clearly dated building phases; for outdoor activity, there is a local walking route to the church as well as a circular route through several places. These topics address different planning questions: building history and architectural details on the one hand, and route and path surfaces on the other.
St. James: a church with several building phases
The building history of the Church of St. James the Greater can be told through two periods. A Utraquist chapel and a separate bell tower date from the building phase of 1511 to 1518. A later building phase lasted from 1599 to 1603 and was carried out under the direction of the Italian architect Carlo Valmadi. The dates mark two stages: the chapel and bell tower belong to the earlier phase; the later phase has its own period and construction supervisor. This sequence is useful for understanding the church’s history, as it does not reduce it to a single year. If you include architectural history in your trip, it helps you distinguish between the early-dated structures and the later building phase.
Details of the Stations of the Cross
The chapels of the Stations of the Cross are also described by specific features: they are made of red sandstone, are about man-height, and have niches topped with a vaulted, shell-shaped form. The material, approximate size and shape of the niches offer different points of reference. “About man-height” indicates an approximate size, not an exact measurement. The shell shape describes the upper part of the niches. This makes it possible to explore the architectural theme through more than just dates: materials and design are also features that may interest those curious about cultural heritage.
Church and technical monument
Another cultural attraction in Dolni Lanov is Kovárna No. 1, which is designated a technical monument. This adds a different kind of cultural heritage to the focus on religious sites. On the one hand, the church grounds and the building phases of St. James are central; on the other, the designation of Kovárna No. 1 as a technical monument is part of the village’s cultural offering. If you would like to include different cultural themes in your trip planning, you can take both into account.
Two routes with different characteristics
The local walking route in Dolni Lanov follows former agricultural tracks to the Church of St. James. Its purpose is clearly defined: old tracks lead to a specific destination. Check the path conditions locally before setting out. The church is the destination of the route described; the condition of the path is a separate practical consideration for your visit.
A circular route also runs from Vrchlabí through Horní and Dolni Lanov to Kunčice nad Labem and back to the starting point. The route description mentions quiet roads, field tracks and short paved sections. Compared with the local walk, this circular route is characterised by several place names and different path surfaces; the walk, by contrast, is defined by its link to the church and its use of former agricultural tracks. You can first decide whether you would prefer to focus on the church connection of a local walk or on the circular route through several named places. For the circular route, it is advisable to check the current path conditions, as surfaces can change.
Planning your stay
When looking for a hotel in Dolni Lanov, it helps to decide on your main interest first: the building history of St. James, the details of the Stations of the Cross chapels, the technical monument, or one of the two routes. This way, you can start planning with the themes you want to shape your stay. If you choose a route, take its particular course into account: one leads to the church, while the circular route passes through several places and features different surfaces.
Discover more destinations: Dolní Olešnice, Stanovice U Kuksu, Dolní Lyseciny, Velké Svatoňovice, Černý Důl, Horní Marsov, Doubravice U Dvora Králové, Velká Úpa.
See the wider travel overview: Trutnov District.
