Milavče offers several ways to explore the history of the place: religious and civic buildings, memorials to an actor and an artist, and archaeological evidence. For planning a day out, there is also a nature trail through the Chodsko region and an international cycling route. This makes it easy to shape your stay around your interests in architecture, art, archaeology or cycling.
Church, Chapel and Schoolhouse
The Church of St. Adalbert (Kostel sv. Vojtěcha) was built between 1741 and 1748 on the site of an older chapel. The nave features scenes from the life of St. Adalbert, painted by the Pilsen artist F. J. Lux after the middle of the 18th century. The construction period and the paintings offer different insights into the church’s history: its artistic decoration is as much a part of the local story as the building itself.
Vojtěška is a small polygonal chapel on the village green beside the pond. During severe droughts, processions would make their way there, including from places further afield. This procession tradition therefore extended beyond the immediate village green; it adds a religious history to the chapel as a building.
Another point of comparison is the Milavče Public School (Obecná škola Milavče). The Late Baroque building was constructed in 1775 and is under strict heritage protection. It was built later than the church, though also in the 18th century. Those interested in architectural history can compare a church and a schoolhouse with different functions and construction dates.
Remembrance and Art
A memorial plaque was unveiled at actor Jiří Bittner’s birthplace in Milavče on 27 September 1925. A bust of the actor was added below the plaque on 10 June 1946. These two precisely dated memorials commemorate Bittner and mark two separate stages in his remembrance.
Milavče is also the birthplace of the artist Josef Váchal. He created several oil paintings and works in mixed media featuring motifs from his hometown. While the plaque and bust commemorate a person, Váchal’s works take up motifs from Milavče in an artistic way. Together, these connections offer different perspectives on the place’s links with artists born there.
Archaeological Traces and Nature Trail
The Milavče area was inhabited as early as the Late Bronze Age. Finds from this period gave rise to the term “Milavče culture.” Numerous burial mounds were also discovered in the surrounding area in the 19th century. The Bronze Age settlement and the later discoveries are different aspects of the area’s archaeological history: one points to the early use of the area, while the other concerns finds that came to light in the 19th century.
The Milavče Burial Mounds Nature Trail (Naučná stezka Milavečské mohyly) runs through the natural landscape of the Chodsko region and leads to the oldest evidence of human life in Chodsko. It offers an approach that combines nature and history, distinct from the stops focused on buildings in the village. Before setting out on a specific walk, it is worth checking the latest route details.
Cycling Route and Getting There
Milavče is connected to an international cycling route that leads to Horšovský Týn and onwards in the direction of Plzeň. The nature trail focuses on nature and early evidence of human life, whereas the cycling route points you in a particular direction. Depending on your interests, you can choose between an archaeology-focused trail and a long-distance cycling route.
Milavče also has a railway stop. If you plan to arrive by train, check the train times for your travel date. For a cycling trip, you should also check the latest route information.
Discover more destinations: Nová Ves U Kdyně, Horní Kamenice, Hlohová, Babylon, Luženičky, Újezd U Domažlic, Spáňov, Neuměř.
For the overview of the wider area: Domažlice District.
