Želkovice brings together architectural history and the surrounding agricultural landscape. The Roman Catholic branch church of Saints Peter and Paul stands on a rise above the western edge of the village; on the long village green, a statue of Saint Joseph marks another historical focal point. Sacred architecture and sculptural commemoration meet a landscape explored through orchards and the area around Lounek.
Church of Saints Peter and Paul: rotunda and extension
The church combines a rotunda with a nave added later. The Neo-Romanesque nave was built in 1852–1853 to plans by the engineer Wetzl. The contrast between the rotunda and Neo-Romanesque nave makes the extension legible as a distinct architectural layer: the building’s history encompasses different forms and phases rather than being limited to a single design.
The rotunda has a slightly oval floor plan and opens to the east onto a rectangular-ended chancel, which originally had a horseshoe-shaped apse. This makes it possible to distinguish the central structure from its eastern end by their forms. Details of the floor plan and chancel give the church an architectural character that extends beyond the Neo-Romanesque addition.
Individual details also add to the picture of the site. A sculpture of a Turk’s head is set into the masonry of the rotunda. It is interpreted as a reminder of the Russo-Austrian war against the Turks. Alongside the description of the building elements, this offers a historical interpretation of the relief. The wall enclosing the church grounds has a wrought-iron, double-leaf gate, another distinctive element of the design.
The statue on the village green
The statue of Saint Joseph stands at the northern, upper end of the long village green. Both the statue and its base are made of sandstone. The work is considered a high-quality example of late Baroque art; its artist is not known. A dedicatory inscription gives the year 1762. Its material, style and inscription offer different ways to place this monument in the history of the village.
Orchards and paths in the surrounding area
Extensive orchards, mostly apple orchards, lie around Želkovice. In spring, their white or pink blossoms offer views of the surrounding landscape. The blossom season provides a distinct seasonal highlight: the orchards are part of the landscape, while their profusion of blossoms is a particular feature of spring. The orchards thus complement the village’s architectural history with a rural perspective.
Nearby, a broad path leads southeast from the Church of Saints Peter and Paul to Lounek. The slopes and summit offer views of the surrounding agricultural landscape. The path provides a sense of direction, while the higher ground offers a different perspective on the landscape.
Spring pheasants’ eye, pasqueflowers and other rare plants grow on the steppe grassland at the summit. Flowering times and visibility vary by season. Most of the summit is fenced, but it can be reached from the east. Check access conditions locally before visiting. The landscape features in the area are therefore distinct: the blossoming fruit trees and steppe grassland plants are seasonal aspects, while the path and views describe Lounek as a point of reference.
Discover more destinations: Mecholupy U Zatce, Očihov, Libčeves, Panenský Týnec, Výškov, Smolnice, Hřivice, Opočno
For the broader travel overview: Louny District.
