Groß Cekau (Čakov) offers several starting points for an exploration: an early Gothic church, a 19th-century chapel, archaeological traces and an official cycling tour that passes through Čakov. The architectural and church history can be explored through specific names and dates; the cycling tour is listed as 43 kilometres long. This allows you to give historical topics and cycling different priorities in your plans.
Churches and historic landmarks
The Church of St. Linhart is early Gothic and dates from around the turn of the 13th and 14th centuries. It stands at the highest point in Čakov and is visible from far across the surrounding landscape. The church contains the gravestone of Jiří Čakovec of Bohuslavice, dating from 1529. The church is accessible during services. Check locally before your visit to find out when access is possible as part of a service.
The Chapel of St. Wenceslas stands opposite the rectory and dates from 1883. Its date provides a contrast in time with the early Gothic church. The village fountain next to the church in Čakov also has a precise construction date: it was built in 1869. Together, the chapel and fountain provide two more clearly located historical points of interest.
Archaeological traces and architectural history
Archaeological investigations on the outskirts of Čakov uncovered settlement remains from the Hallstatt period, including an estate belonging to iron producers. A group of burial mounds from the Hallstatt and La Tène periods lies in the forest, 1.5 kilometres south of Čakovec. They date from the 6th to the 4th century BC. The two archaeological contexts offer different perspectives: settlement remains associated with iron production in one place, and burial mounds from two prehistoric periods in another.
A later historical point of interest is the Baroque house at No. 6 in Čakovec. It stands on the site of a former Gothic fortress and was built by monks from the Cistercian monastery of Vyšší Brod. This site brings together a Baroque house and the history of an earlier Gothic building. Compared with the prehistoric traces and the early Gothic church, it shows just how far apart the periods covered by these historical topics are.
Dehtář and the cycling tour
Holubovská Bašta lies on the shore of Dehtář, a pond used for recreation. A hill in Holubovská Bašta offers panoramic views of the pond. The shoreline setting and the view are two specific aspects of this connection with the landscape.
The official “Pedal Through the Budějovicko Region” cycling tour is 43 kilometres long and passes through Křenovice, Čakov and Holašovice. Its stated length and the places along the route offer a concrete starting point for planning a ride. You can decide whether to make the tour the main focus of your day based on your own plans.
Eating in the municipality of Čakov
The Jihočeská Salaš restaurant is located in the municipality of Čakov, at Čakovec 28. It serves traditional South Bohemian cuisine. If you plan to visit, check the latest opening hours before you travel.
For a culture-focused visit, the churches, fountain and architectural history, and archaeological finds take centre stage. The cycling tour is a specifically quantified activity; at Dehtář, the named landscape highlight is the panoramic view. These differences can help you choose the topics that interest you for your trip without combining them into a single excursion.
Discover more destinations: Holubovska Basta, Ševětín, Hlawatetz, Nedabyle, Nuzice, Draschitz, Hwozdetz, Schwiehalm.
Back to the regional travel overview: Okres České Budějovice.
