In Jesenec, architectural history, religious tradition and landscape raise different questions when planning a trip. The Church of St. Liborius is notable for its oval floor plan; at the same time, Jesenec is a pilgrimage site with a movable Sunday date. The castle, a Lourdes grotto, a nature trail that ends in the town, and the Jesenka River add to these themes. Anyone looking for a holiday rental in Jesenec can first decide whether the main purpose of the trip is architecture, pilgrimage or the surrounding area.

Location and landscape

Jesenec lies on the southern slope of Zámecká Horka, on the road between Konice and Moravská Třebová. The Jesenka rises on the border between Jesenec and Dzbel; farther downstream, the same river is called the Romže. The change of name is a useful clue when following the course of the waterway: Jesenka refers to the section near its source, while Romže refers to the section farther downstream. The nature trail in Kladecko Nature Park also ends in Jesenec. This offers a clear distinction for planning: the nature trail has the town as its endpoint, while the church and castle highlight architectural history and the pilgrimage highlights religious tradition.

Church and castle

The Church of St. Liborius was built between 1711 and 1714. Its oval floor plan makes it a rare architectural monument; this design came from Vienna. An oval floor plan describes the shape of a building as seen from above: unlike a rectangular layout, its outline follows an oval line. Jesenec Castle was built in 1711 on the site of a former fortress. Thus, the church and castle both have construction dates from the same year, but different historical points of reference: construction of the church began in 1711, while the castle was built on the former fortress site. The castle continues to serve as a retirement home; check current visiting options before planning a visit. The church’s main entrance is used year-round. If you are planning to visit the interior of the church, check access arrangements on site.

Pilgrimage and Lourdes grotto

Jesenec is a pilgrimage site that attracts pilgrims from far away every year. The pilgrimage in honour of St. Liborius takes place on the Sunday closest to the feast day of St. Liborius on 23 July. Since the date can vary from year to year, check the date for the relevant year when planning your trip rather than assuming that 23 July is the event day. This is especially useful if you are choosing Jesenec specifically for the pilgrimage. There is also a small Lourdes grotto in the park above the castle, with a depiction of the Virgin Mary. It offers another religious point of interest in the town alongside the annual pilgrimage.

Plan your stay

If you are considering Jesenec as a place to stay overnight, you can choose your travel dates based on the purpose of your trip. For the pilgrimage, the Sunday date changes from year to year; those mainly interested in historic architecture will find two distinct points of interest in the oval church building and the castle built in 1711. For a sense of the landscape, there is the endpoint of the nature trail and the change of name from Jesenka to Romže. A specific interest can therefore determine which aspect of the town shapes your stay.

Discover more destinations: Vřesovice, Hvozd U Prostejova, Malé Hradisko, Šubířov, Tištín, Budětsko, Niva, Klenovice Na Hané.

Go to the overview of the wider region: Okres Prostějov.