The Church of St John the Baptist stands on a promontory above the river, overlooking the surrounding landscape. This striking church site offers a tangible introduction to Urbanov’s sacred architecture and the Stráň v Urbanově landscape area.
Church and Sacred Art
According to historian Prof. Dr Václav Richtr, the church was founded between 1220 and 1230. The enclosing wall of the former medieval cemetery completes the church complex. This brings two historical points of reference into view: the church’s foundation and the former cemetery with its enclosing wall.
The Chapel of St Barbara is a small late-Baroque religious building set into the enclosing wall of the former cemetery. Its rectangular ground plan, three-sided termination and round-arched vaulted entrance describe different aspects of its design. A small bell tower crowns the hipped roof. A hipped roof also has sloping roof surfaces at the gable ends. These terms help distinguish the ground plan, entrance and roof shape as separate architectural features.
A valuable Baroque statue of St John of Nepomuk stands in the square in front of the church complex. It was erected and consecrated on 17 September 1729. One cross in Urbanov is a rare, high-quality piece of wrought ironwork, with rich Baroque and Rococo ornamentation on a tall stone pedestal. A Neoclassical cross dating from 1825 is surrounded by a stone balustrade enclosure. The two crosses have different distinguishing features: one is notable for its wrought ironwork and ornamentation, while the other stands out for its Neoclassical style and stone enclosure.
The chronology spans the church’s founding between 1220 and 1230, the statue of 1729 and the Neoclassical cross of 1825. Urbanov’s sacred architecture and art therefore encompass several periods and styles.
The Stráň v Urbanově Landscape
Stráň v Urbanově is registered as a significant landscape feature (VKP). Its shallow soils support relatively species-poor vegetation, with a high proportion of species comparatively tolerant of drought and warmth. The registration and ecological description offer two perspectives on the same area: its status classifies it, while its soil and vegetation describe its specific character. In contrast to the churches, the focus here is on natural site conditions rather than architectural forms and dates.
Cycle Routes, Road and Bus
Marked cycle routes pass through Urbanov. The Class II road II/403 from Kouty to Telč also runs through the village, and public bus services connect Urbanov. If you are planning a bus journey, check the timetable for your travel dates.
When considering Urbanov as a travel destination, you can focus on different interests: sacred architecture and art history, the vegetation of Stráň, or marked cycle routes. This makes it easier to compare the village with your own travel priorities.
Discover more destinations: Brtnička, Třešť, Luka nad Jihlavou, Dudín, Hybrálec, Švábov, Stáj, Jamné
View the wider travel overview: Jihlava District.
