A sandstone group from 1743 and a granite statue from 1753 give Ždírec two Baroque depictions of saints with precisely documented dates. Together with the parish church of St. Wenceslas, they create a clear cultural and historical focal point. If you are looking for church and monument history on your trip, these specific architectural and artistic works provide a way to explore the town.
St. Wenceslas: Parish Church and Neo-Gothic Building
St. Wenceslas Church is the parish church of the Roman Catholic parish of Ždírec. It stands out on the village square and is surrounded by a small park. The present church was built between 1893 and 1898 on the site of its predecessor, after the earlier building burned down completely in 1890. The design is by master builder Josef Šupich of Havlíčkův Brod; the new building is Neo-Gothic. These dates place the present building within the town’s older history and that of the parish.
A church in Ždírec has been documented in writing since the 14th century; St. Wenceslas was already a parish church before 1367. From the second half of the 16th century until 1622, it served Protestants; Liebzeit was the last Protestant pastor in the town. The local rectory was destroyed during the Thirty Years’ War and rebuilt in 1690. The history of the parish thus extends far beyond the Neo-Gothic building.
Inside are an old organ and paintings depicting scenes from the life of St. Wenceslas. Only a large wooden cross and four stone grave slabs remain from the original interior furnishings; the present furnishings date from a later period. The original wooden cross survived the 1890 fire. A memorial plaque commemorating the murdered Germans at Budínka is located beside it. St. Wenceslas has been protected as a cultural monument since 3 May 1958.
Two Baroque Depictions of Saints
The Baroque sandstone group of St. John of Nepomuk dates from 1743 and is attributed to Václav Viktor Morávek. The figure of the saint is life-size. An angel holding a cross stands on the right; on the left, three putti hold a cartouche with a relief of the Madonna. The material and arrangement of the figures give the monument its own clearly described form.
The likewise Baroque statue of St. Anthony of Padua is made of granite, dates from 1753, and was created by the sculptor Václav Morávek of Polná. It stands in the western part of Ždírec at a road junction with turnoffs toward Střítež and Měšín. The two works differ in both material—sandstone versus granite—and dating and attribution: the Nepomuk group is attributed to Václav Viktor Morávek, while Václav Morávek is named as the sculptor of the Anthony statue.
Cycling Routes and Getting Around the Area
Two cycling routes meet in Ždírec. However, no marked hiking trail passes through the town. This means that getting around by bicycle differs from planning a trip specifically along a marked hiking trail. As routes may change, check the current route information before making specific plans.
Bus connections are listed toward Jihlava, Polná, Žďár nad Sázavou, and Olomouc. These destinations provide an initial guide for your journey; check the timetable for your travel date before setting off.
Near Ždírec, the Memorial Scots Pine stands about 600 metres from the town on a well-maintained grassy island in the fields, on the left side of the road from Ždírec to Polná. Check its location when you arrive. The pine is 11 metres tall and has a trunk circumference of 235 centimetres; these measurements may change over time.
Discover more destinations: Horní Dubenky, Puklice, Strachoňovice, Řídelov, Vystrčenovice, Rozseč, Sedlatice, Hodice.
For the broader travel overview: Jihlava District.
