Bořetice brings together architectural history, commemorative culture and a clearly defined connection to the landscape. The Neo-Gothic chapel dates from the second half of the 19th century, the memorial to the victims of the First World War was erected in 1928, and the Bořetický Stream flows along the southeastern edge of the village. This offers several specific themes for a stay focused on cultural history, while the stream provides a distinct connection to the landscape.

Chapel and commemorative culture

The chapel in Bořetice was built in the second half of the 19th century in the Neo-Gothic style. Neo-Gothic architecture revives Gothic forms in a later period; here, the style designation therefore refers to the building’s design, not to a medieval construction date. The bell adds another layer of history: it is considerably older than the chapel. The same building thus brings together a 19th-century structure and a bell with a longer history, creating an interesting contrast in their ages.

The memorial to the victims of the First World War offers another perspective on the village’s history. It was erected in 1928 and bears photographs of six fallen men. The year it was built places the memorial in its historical context, while the photographs draw attention to individual people. Its subject therefore differs from the chapel’s architectural history: here, the focus is on remembrance of the war and the men depicted.

Early records and personal connections

The first written record of Bořetice dates from 1300 and reads “villa Boreticz ad Horzepnik”. This entry provides a specific early historical reference point for the village and preserves a historical form of its name. It offers a different perspective from the later buildings and memorial sites: while the chapel and memorial each reflect a particular era, the written record reaches further back into the village’s history.

Personal biographies also add to this history. The historian Václav Žáček was born in Bořetice in 1905. The parents of Bishop Franz Žak also came from the village. These connections are different: Bořetice was Žáček’s birthplace, while its connection to Franz Žak is through his parents’ origins.

The stream and Červená Řečice Castle

The Bořetický Stream runs along the southeastern edge of Bořetice and is a right-bank tributary of the Trnava. The stream can thus be located both within the village’s surroundings and within the wider water system: one connection describes its course along the edge of the village, the other its relationship to the Trnava.

Červená Řečice is also connected to Bořetice’s early history: at that time, the village belonged to the archbishop’s estate of Červená Řečice. Today, Červená Řečice Castle lies five kilometres east of Bořetice. The castle complex is a national cultural monument, and guided tours with commentary are available. Its historical connection to the village and its role today as a place to visit are distinct. Check the current tour schedule before planning your visit.

Getting there by bus

Bořetice is served by the Hořepník–Pacov, Pacov–Pelhřimov and Lukavec–Pelhřimov bus routes. If you are planning to travel by bus, check the current timetable before your trip to make sure the connection suits your travel date.

Discover more destinations: Stojčín, Pošná, Těmice, Svépravice, Lidmaň, Betlem, Martinice U Onšova, Počátky

See the broader travel overview: Pelhřimov District.