A rock chapel, reliefs depicting the Passion cycle and a 417-metre-high basalt mountain give Velenice U Zákup very distinctive features. The village lies in the valley of the Svitava stream. For trip planning, this means there is both cultural history and landscape to explore, as well as an annual event centred on the wooden nativity scene.
Landscape Between the Valley and the Basalt Mountain
The landscape around Velenice combines forests, sandstone cliffs and a hilly plateau characteristic of the foothills of the Lusatian Mountains. The wooded Velenický kopec stands out as a prominent landmark: the basalt mountain is 417 metres high, has a rocky ridge and features scree slopes overgrown with forest. Different rock formations and ridges therefore meet in this landscape. The mountain’s name serves as a specific point of reference for navigation; today, a view of Velenice can be enjoyed from a meadow below the edge of the forest.
Buildings and Historical Traces
In the 14th century, a fief belonged to Hanuš Pancíř ze Smojna. The remains of the castle ruins include a narrow cellar hewn out of the rock and the foundations of a rectangular sandstone building. The stone Schill cross bears the year 1633. The Baroque Church of the Holy Trinity in Velenice was completed in 1735 and solemnly consecrated on 25 July of that year. Another date of significance is the designation of a village conservation area in Velenice in 1995. Together, these references trace a path from the medieval fortified estate to individual historic buildings and a designated conservation area.
Boží hrob: Rock Chapel and Reliefs
The Boží hrob rock chapel was hewn into a sandstone cliff by local farmer Schille in 1710–1711. Its reliefs, carved into the rock, date from the second decade of the 18th century and depict the Passion cycle. They are considered a unique testament to Baroque popular piety and devotion to the suffering of Christ. About 50 metres from the chapel, another, folk-style relief of the Crucifixion is carved into the rock. The chapel itself is about 350 metres from Velenice, on the left-hand side of the road leading east out of the village towards nearby Brniště. These details help distinguish the chapel and the separate Crucifixion relief as two different rock carvings located close to each other.
Walking and Views of the Village
The landscape around Velenice is well suited to walking. From Zákupy, you can extend a walk along a nature trail with a visit to Velenice; a day-trip route from Zákupy also includes a descent towards Velenice. For views of the village, a municipal guide from 2023 describes the summit viewpoint on Velenický kopec as overgrown and identifies a meadow below the forest edge as a vantage point overlooking Velenice. As vegetation and conditions at the viewpoint may change, check the situation before your visit.
An Annual Event at Velenický betlém
Petra Pilná and Josef Vörös began creating a wooden nativity scene next to St. Joseph’s Chapel in 2018: the Velenický betlém. Its ceremonial lighting takes place each year on the Saturday before the first Sunday of Advent, so the exact calendar date varies. The celebration includes treats made by local women. At the event, the person with the tastiest homemade product in the competition receives the title “Velenická kulinářská hvězda” (Velenice Culinary Star). If you would like to include this event in your travel plans, check the date for the year in question.
Discover more destinations: Mimoň, Prysk, Brniště, Luka, Pertoltice Pod Ralskem, Vrchovany, Arnultovice, Kozly U České Lípy
For the regional travel overview: Okres Česká Lípa.
