Herálec offers several distinct ways to explore the town’s history: Baroque wayside shrines dating from 1767, a church with a medieval predecessor, the construction phases of Chateau Herálec, and a long glassmaking tradition. This makes it possible to explore the area during a cultural stay through a range of themes, rather than focusing everything on a single building. Practical directions are also part of the picture: a wayside shrine in the northern part of town is on a blue-marked hiking trail; bicycle access and parking provide additional points to consider when planning.
Wayside Shrines and Getting Around
Wayside shrines dating from 1767 stand on the road to the new cemetery behind Herálec. They were created by an unknown artist and are a valuable example of folk Baroque. They were restored to their original form and with their original technical execution. Their history thus includes both their Baroque classification and the preservation of their form and execution.
The Boží muka wayside shrine in the northern part of Herálec is on a blue-marked hiking trail, about 500 m from the church. You can reach it by bicycle via a well-maintained field track. Parking is available at the church or on a paved road about 200 m from the monument. Check local trail conditions before your visit. This allows you to consider the hiking trail, bicycle access, and parking separately when planning.
Church and Castle: Different Construction Phases
At St. Bartholomew’s Church, the medieval predecessor and the present-day church should be distinguished chronologically. The predecessor dates from the 13th century; around 1280, it was fortified and protected by a moat or pond. The present-day church was solemnly consecrated on October 24, 1880, by Josef Hais, Bishop of Königgrätz. In the small park in front of the church stands a Baroque statue of St. Florian dating from 1740. The chronology thus spans the church’s predecessor, the Baroque period, and the consecration of the present-day church in the 19th century.
The history of Chateau Herálec also comprises several periods. The walls date from the 13th century. After Herálec was sold in 1601, Kryštof Karel z Roupova had the castle converted over the following decades into a three-wing, single-storey building with round towers. In 1861, the architect B. Waschmann redesigned the castle in the Neo-Gothic style. From 2009 to August 2011, it underwent extensive restoration and historical reconstruction. The age of the walls, the later conversion, and the Neo-Gothic redesign represent different stages in the building’s history.
Glassmaking History and Accommodation
Herálec’s cultural history can be explored through more than its buildings. The first glassworks was built here in 1604. In the 18th century, the town was known for producing sheet glass and mirror glass. The early founding of the glassworks and the town’s later reputation for specific types of glass belong to different chapters of its local craft history.
Chateau Herálec is a specifically named hotel in Herálec and a place to start your accommodation search. The hotel has a swimming pool beneath historic vaults in the castle’s former stables. For travel by car, Chateau Herálec is about 7 km from the D1 motorway. The associated exits are listed as 90 Humpolec and 104 Větrný Jeníkov. When choosing where to stay, you can consider the local historical themes and the specific hotel listing separately.
Discover more destinations: Hnevkovice, Vysoká, Cibotín, Vilémov, Rušinov, Vilémovice, Nejepín, Krucemburk.
For the broader travel overview: Okres Havlíčkův Brod.
