Dolenice combines a distinctive cultural and historical highlight with a cycle route through the village. The chapel of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (Pozdvišení sv. Kříže), an immovable cultural monument, stands in the village square; at the same time, cycle route No. 5009 Břežany–Miroslav–Moravský Krumlov passes through Dolenice. This gives you a clear choice when deciding on your destination: are you primarily interested in a single building with a long history of construction, or would you like to discover Dolenice as part of a cycling tour? Local monuments and the annual Hody festival add to the cultural appeal.

The Chapel and Its History

The chapel stands in the elevated southwestern part of the village square. It was built between 1717 and 1725 as an architecturally significant central octagonal structure. An octagonal structure is a building with an eight-sided plan; the term describes its basic shape. A four-sided bell tower rises from the sheet-metal-covered tent roof. Its onion dome is topped by a finial and a double cross. The chapel also has an adjoining single-storey rectangular sacristy. Visitors interested in architecture can explore the floor plan, roof and tower design of a single building.

The chapel was restored between 2016 and 2020. The roof frame was repaired and a new structure was built for the tower spire; a new roof covering was also installed. The building’s stability was improved, the plaster and infill panels were renewed, and the altar was restored. Almost three centuries separate the construction period and the restoration, marking two clearly distinct periods in the building’s history.

Other Monuments and Hody

Another of Dolenice’s local monuments is a statue of Saint John of Nepomuk. Traditional Hody festivities are held every year around 12 September. This recurring event adds a specific time of year to the village’s architectural and cultural attractions; check local dates before travelling.

Cycle Route No. 5009 and the Landscape

Cycle route No. 5009 between Břežany, Miroslav and Moravský Krumlov passes through Dolenice. Most of the route follows paved second- and third-class roads, which are suitable for all types of bicycles. Check route conditions before setting out.

The route crosses the gently rolling agricultural landscape of the Miroslavsko microregion, passing fertile fields, orchards and vineyards. Towards the end, it enters the romantic valley of the Rokytná River and passes through the Krumlovsko-rokytenské slepence protected area. The surface and landscape are two distinct considerations when planning a bike ride: the road classes describe the predominant surface, while the fields, orchards, vineyards and final stretch through the valley characterize the landscape along the route.

There are also cycling and walking trails around Dolenice, suitable for trips into nature.

Discover more destinations: Kyjovice, Bantice, Milíčovice, Jiřice U Miroslavi, Kuchařovice, Miroslav, Suchohrdly U Miroslavi, Žerotice.

For the overview of the wider area, see: Znojmo District.