Česká Bělá can be explored through several specific themes: the architectural history of St. Bartholomew’s Church, medieval ore mining along the Počátky–Česká Bělá axis, and two hilly road cycling routes that pass through the town. This gives you different options for your stay: you can focus on historic buildings and mining history, or compare the distances and difficulty levels of the cycling routes. A short walk adds another option: a stroll that begins in the town centre.

Church and chapel: different periods of construction

St. Bartholomew’s Church is an immovable cultural monument. It is originally Gothic and dates from the 14th century. The nave was remodelled in 1734 based on an earlier design by J. Santini. Its architectural history can therefore be divided into two stages: the church’s Gothic origins and the later alteration of its nave.

The Baroque Chapel of the Fourteen Holy Helpers, dating from 1762, stands on Šibeniční hora. It offers a different architectural point of reference from the church, which began as a Gothic building. Those interested in architectural history can thus consider two sacred buildings from different stylistic periods and eras, rather than treating them as belonging to a single period.

Ore history and the Jeffrey pine

The richest ore veins along the Počátky–Česká Bělá axis were mined in the Middle Ages. This history complements the buildings with another theme: the extraction of mineral resources. The town’s history thus extends from architecture to medieval mining.

Another specific point of interest is the chateau park in Česká Bělá. A Jeffrey pine, considered to be of high scientific and aesthetic value, grows there. Unlike the dated churches and chapel, the focus here is on a single tree. This offers nature enthusiasts an additional aspect to explore in the town.

Comparing two cycling routes

The Chotěboř–Vepříkov–Dolní Krupá–Česká Bělá–Chotěboř cycling route is 41.5 kilometres long, moderately difficult and hilly. It is a road route for road bikes and trekking bikes. The second route runs from Rušinov via Chotěboř, Česká Bělá and Havlíčkův Brod to Šlapanov. It is 45 kilometres long, also hilly and intended for the same types of bicycle, but is classified as difficult.

The difference in length is 3.5 kilometres; the difficulty levels also differ, from moderate to difficult. So distance alone is not the only factor to consider when choosing a route. Compare both details along with each route’s course: on the first route, Česká Bělá lies between Dolní Krupá and Chotěboř; on the second, it lies between Chotěboř and Havlíčkův Brod. Both routes pass through the town, but place it in a different sequence of named stops.

A short walk from the town centre

A short, easy walk begins in the town centre and follows yellow tourist trail markings. As markings may change, check the route signage before setting out. This makes it easy to choose between a short walk and one of the two hilly cycling routes based on your preferred activity and the distance involved.

Discover more destinations: Kamenná Lhota, Jilem, Nová Ves U Chotěboře, Věž, Skryje, Lípa, Leština U Světlé, Hostačov.

For the broader travel overview: Havlíčkův Brod District.