Stonehenge Ostrovánky gives the place an unusual, clearly defined cultural theme: 16 sandstone menhirs are arranged in a circle. The site was completed in 2025; the sandstone comes from Dubenec near Jaroměř. With a diameter of 24 metres, its size is easy to grasp. Nearby, chapels, monuments and carefully maintained traditions tell of other, in some cases considerably older, aspects of Ostrovánky.
Menhirs and Landscape Connections
The operator describes the site as freely accessible and without restrictions; check the access information before your visit. Its distinctive form and dimensions give an impression of the site, while its completion in 2025 sets it apart chronologically from the village’s historic buildings and memorial sites.
Ostrovánky lies in a gently rolling hollow on both sides of the road between Kyjov and Ždánice. From the hills above the village, you can look out over the Moravian Slovakia region. Sobůlský potok also helps orient visitors geographically: it rises at the upper end of the village and flows into the Kyjovka below Kyjov. Another point of reference is the Kyjovská vinařská stezka, which runs from Bukovany through Ostrovánky to Nechvalín. This sequence of places puts Ostrovánky on the map of a named wine route.
Chapels and Memorial Sites
The Chapel of the Virgin Mary is the oldest building in Ostrovánky and dates from 1882. It was built by the Sadílek couple from Ostrovánky and was declared a cultural monument in 2004. The Chapel of St Wenceslas tells a different story: it was built as a small church in 1929 and consecrated in 1931. Inside is a painting of St Wenceslas by Jano Köhler. Here, the year of construction and the year of consecration mark two separate milestones.
The village’s written history also reaches far back: Ostrovánky is first mentioned in written sources in 1141. On the edge of the village, in the direction of Bukovany, stands the Štěpán Novák Monument. Its inscription records that Štěpán Novák was born in Ostrovánky on 20 November 1898 and fell on the Italian front on 9 September 1917. The monument thus connects an individual life story with the place and its historic memorials.
The Alej vzpomínek (Avenue of Remembrance) adds another dimension. This 650-metre-long memorial avenue was planted in 2017 in memory of loved ones who have passed away. It is located on the road between Bukovanský mlýn and Ostrovánky. The trees belong to 161 families from the area around Bukovany and carry the stories of their ancestors. An entrance gate to the Cesta českých panovníků rises above the avenue. Access to a small viewing platform is free.
Living Traditions and Local Character
Local customs include raising the Maypole. The tradition is accompanied by gatherings of men’s and women’s choirs from the surrounding area, as well as dulcimer music. The tradition of the St Wenceslas feast in folk costumes is also maintained. Thus, alongside buildings and memorial sites, Ostrovánky has communal and musical cultural traditions. To understand the place, visitors can distinguish between the historical milestones represented by the chapels, the personal memories associated with the memorial sites, and the traditions kept alive today.
Each of these themes has a different focus: Stonehenge Ostrovánky is defined by its circular form, material and dimensions; the chapels can be understood through their construction and consecration; and the Alej vzpomínek connects a memorial purpose with the stories of families from the surrounding area. The landscape, in turn, offers a geographical perspective on the village. This variety makes Ostrovánky a destination where both cultural history and orientation in the rural landscape can be taken into account.
Discover more destinations: Moravany and Kyjov, Josefov U Hodonína, Vřesovice, Archlebov, Žarošice, Rohatec, Zdanice, Lužice
For the wider travel guide: Okres Hodonín.
