The building history of the Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross and a 31 km cycling route give Újezd Svatého Kríze two distinct visitor highlights. The history of the former chateau and the Kocovy kameny rock formations in the surrounding area are additional attractions. These topics offer different starting points for planning your trip: architectural and local history, cycling, and traces of the past in the landscape.
Church, Rectory and Cemetery
The Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross is a High Gothic building, remodeled primarily in the Classicist style and again at the end of the 19th century. The first written references to its existence date from 1352. The original vault and fragments of wall paintings have been preserved in the presbytery. Its building history thus brings together early written records, High Gothic origins, and later alterations.
Beside the church stands an early Baroque rectory dating from the second half of the 17th century; the cemetery also adjoins the church. It contains numerous tombstones of former German residents of the area. The church, rectory, and cemetery can therefore be viewed as a connected cultural and historical highlight, combining architectural history with traces of former residents.
The Former Chateau and the Mánes Family
The former chateau was surrounded by a park. In the 1860s, Josef, Quido, and Amálie Mánes were frequent guests at the chateau and made numerous drawings there. This cultural connection is part of the chateau’s history. The building was demolished with explosives in 1978 after being vandalized by a unit of the Border Guard. The history of the place thus includes both the Mánes family’s visits and the later destruction of the chateau.
Cycling Route and Rock Formations
The 31 km Cycling Route 2281 passes through the village and connects Nemanice with Bělá nad Radbuzou. Its length and endpoints give you concrete details for planning a cycling trip. Check the route’s current condition before setting out.
The Kocovy kameny rock formations lie near Újezd Svatého Kríze and bear inscriptions carved in stone by hunting parties. They are located below the 862 m-high Velký Zvon. The rock formations and their inscriptions offer a different focus from the cycling route. Check the exact access conditions for the Kocovy kameny locally.
Planning Your Trip: Key Highlights
When choosing accommodation, you can first consider which of these topics you would like to shape your trip. The church, rectory, cemetery, and history of the former chateau represent architectural and local history; the cycling route provides a specific route, while the Kocovy kameny bring together rock formations and historical inscriptions. These differences can help you decide what you would like to focus on. If you plan to cycle, take the route’s current condition into account. If you plan to visit the rock formations, check the access conditions locally.
Discover more destinations: Horní Kamenice, Postřekov, Kolovec, Tlumačov, Ždánov, Lazce, Libkov, Mutěnín
For the broader travel overview: Domažlice District.
