Hnevkovice brings together local history, wine and landscape through clearly distinct features. These include the complex of St. Bartholomew’s Church, the Želivka vineyards, which offer guided tours and tastings by arrangement, and the river, reservoir and protected-area features within the municipality. For planning purposes, it is important to note the different conditions: a visit to the vineyards requires prior arrangement, while the natural features cover different geographic scales.
Church Complex and Local History
The protected complex of St. Bartholomew’s Church includes a bell tower, the grounds of a former cemetery, the ruins of what was probably a former mortuary, and a stone perimeter wall with a gate. The complex therefore extends beyond the church building and encompasses various architectural and historical elements. The former function of the ruins remains explicitly a matter of conjecture. This cautious qualification is part of the picture of the site, alongside the other clearly identified features.
A historical landmark dates to 1262, when King Přemysl Otakar II elevated Hněvkovice to the status of a market village. This date gives the town’s history a specific medieval reference point. Together with the church complex, it opens up two distinct cultural and historical perspectives: a political status of the time and a complex with several components.
Želivka Vineyards
The Želivka vineyards in Hněvkovice were established in April 2014. Guided vineyard tours and wine tastings are available by arrangement. If you choose to make wine the focus of your stay, arrange your visit in advance. A panoramic view of the Želivka River and the surrounding Vysočina landscape opens up from a south-facing slope of the vineyards. The vineyard experience thus combines a visit that must be arranged in advance with a distinctive connection to the landscape.
The local history and the vineyards also differ considerably in age: 1262 marks the town’s elevation to market-village status, while April 2014 marks the establishment of the vineyards. A medieval historical landmark and a much more recent connection to Želivka thus sit side by side. This distinction helps you consider history and wine culture as separate focal points.
Landscape at Different Scales
The municipality of Hněvkovice is predominantly characterized by fields and forests. The Sázava flows through the area, and part of the Švihov Reservoir also lies within the municipality. These geographic features have different scopes: the Sázava runs through the area, while only part of the reservoir is within the municipality. This makes it possible to distinguish the river and reservoir as separate landscape features.
The Želivka Natura 2000 site (CZ0214016) extends into the municipality at its edge. The registered significant landscape feature Čertovy díry lies within the municipality of Hněvkovice. Here, too, the extent differs: the Natura 2000 site overlaps only with the edge of the municipality, while Čertovy díry lies within it. Together with the municipality’s predominantly agricultural and forested character, this gives you an overview at the municipal level, rather than of just one landscape type.
You can choose from several starting points when deciding what to focus on during your stay: local history and the church complex, a vineyard visit arranged in advance, or the landscape with its various water features and protected areas. This can help you decide which topic best matches your travel interests when looking for accommodation in Hnevkovice.
Discover more destinations: Příseka, Havlíčkova Borová, Hurtova Lhota, Sázavka, Žižkovo Pole, Ostrov, Svetlá Nad Sázavou, Lípa
For the broader travel overview: Havlíčkův Brod District.
