In the middle of Kelčany’s village square stands the chapel of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary (“Navštívení Panny Marie”). Near Chrást are a historic wooden cross and three lime trees that were designated memorial trees; depending on the direction, the “Cesta Podchřibím” route also begins or ends there. In the northern part of the village, the Kelčanské búdy line a main road. These themes give a stay different focuses: local history, the “Cesta Podchřibím” route with its viewpoints, or wine tastings with gastronomic specialties.

The Chapel and Local Tradition

The chapel dates from 1817 and was reconstructed in 2013. The two dates mark different chapters: 1817 represents the building’s origins, while 2013 marks its later reconstruction. Its location in the middle of the village square makes it a tangible landmark in Kelčany’s local history.

The “Kelčanský svátek,” the Feast of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary, with a procession, is part of the local tradition handed down over time. The exact date may vary. If this festival is important to your trip, check the date in advance. The variable festival date is therefore a separate planning consideration, while the chapel’s location in the village square is clearly established. The names also bring the same theme together: “Navštívení Panny Marie” means the Visitation of the Virgin Mary, which is also part of the festival’s name.

The Wooden Cross and Route near Chrást

A historic oak-wood cross has stood near Chrást since 1810. It is about 5.5 metres tall and is registered as a cultural monument. Three lime trees at the cross’s location were designated memorial trees in 2005. This site thus brings together a historic cross and three specially designated trees.

Depending on the direction, the “Cesta Podchřibím” route begins or ends in Kelčany at the wooden cross near the Chrást forest. There are numerous notable viewpoints and rest stops along the way. The cross provides a tangible historical landmark, while the viewpoints and rest stops shape the route’s landscape character.

Kelčanské búdy and Wine Tastings

In the northern part of Kelčany, the Kelčanské búdy form a row of wine cellars. They line the main road between Kyjov and Žádovice. Cellar owners in the Kelčany cellar row offer wine tastings with gastronomic specialties. The specific offer may depend on the individual cellar owner. If a wine tasting is a deciding factor for your trip, check the offer with the relevant cellar owner in advance. For orientation, remember the northern part of the village and the main road; for the tasting, it is the individual owner who matters.

Planning Your Trip

When planning, it helps to distinguish between features with fixed locations and offers that may vary: the chapel, cross and lime trees can be identified by their locations and historical dates; the festival date may vary, and wine tastings depend on the cellar owners. So if a particular festival or tasting will determine your plans, check the date or offer. For choosing a route, however, the direction you want to travel is what matters, since Kelčany can be either the starting point or the endpoint.

Discover more destinations: Šardice, Hrubá Vrbka, Dolní Bojanovice, Ostrovánky, Syrovín, Tasov, Moravany and Kyjov, Josefov U Hodonína

For the regional travel overview: Hodonín District.