The Melechov and Podlipnicko cycling route starts in the square in Dolní Město and connects historic churches with natural landscapes. It includes mountain biking in the Melechov area and passes Čertův kámen. This makes it a straightforward choice if you want to combine cultural sights and scenery in one outing. For detailed planning, check the current route and trail conditions; surfaces may change.
Churches with Different Historical Layers
St Martin’s Church was originally dedicated to St John; the current dedication to St Martin is first mentioned in 1653. Partially preserved wall paintings probably date from the first half of the 14th century. The dedication and paintings thus offer two different ways to explore the history of the same church building.
In Loukov, a neighbouring settlement, St Margaret’s Church stands on the site of the former village of Loukov. Its original building dates from before the mid-14th century; the square tower was added only in the second half of the 17th century. Medieval wall paintings were discovered in 1941 and dated to the last decade of the 14th century.
The building phases and paintings reveal several historical layers rather than a single account of the church’s origins. When comparing them, you can consider the original dedication, tower, and wall paintings as different points of reference. The dating of the paintings at St Martin’s is explicitly considered probable.
In July and August 2026, the churches in Dolní Město and Loukov were open every weekend from 10:00 to 17:00. For a later trip, please check the current opening times.
A Granite Rock and a Literary Monument
Čertův kámen is a geomorphologically distinctive granite tor and an isolated rock formation in the forest on the southern slope of Melechov peak. It lies at an altitude of 640 metres; two rock basins are located on its summit platform. The description thus links its position on the forested slope with a specific feature right on the rock.
Hlava XXII offers a different way to experience granite and the landscape. The nearly three-metre-high, 18-tonne granite head depicts Jaroslav Hašek. Its name comes from the Czech title of Joseph Heller’s novel. The monument stands in a meadow at the crossroads between Lipnice nad Sázavou and Dolní Město. The two names refer to different points of reference: Hašek is the person depicted, while Heller is the author of the novel whose Czech title gave the monument its name.
These sights can therefore be explored according to your interests: the churches offer insights into architectural history and medieval art, Čertův kámen into a distinctive rock formation, and Hlava XXII into a literary connection. The cycling route provides a described link between historic churches and natural landscapes.
Discover more destinations: Víska, Michalovice, Prosíčka, Lípa, Horní Krupá, Vlkanov, Vepříkov, Vysoká
For the overview of the wider region: Havlíčkův Brod District.
