Bačkovice can be explored through a range of themes: the Chapel of Saints Cyril and Methodius as its defining landmark, the history of the fortress and a route through the Želetavka Valley. There is also a wayside shrine south of the village and landscapes ranging from forests to ponds. The view therefore extends from the building in the village to cultural monuments and routes in the surrounding area.

Chapel and Fortress History

The Chapel of Saints Cyril and Methodius is an important historic monument and the defining landmark of Bačkovice. It provides a clear focal point for the village’s history. Another thread leads to Bačkovice Fortress, which was destroyed in 1468 during the Bohemian–Hungarian War.

The fortress’s destruction and its present-day location should be considered separately. The likely site of the fortress is on the left bank of the Želetavka, right by the bridge at the northern end of the village. This location has not yet been confirmed archaeologically. Two distinct statements are therefore relevant when considering the fortress: its historical destruction in 1468 and its still-likely, unconfirmed location.

Boží muka Wayside Shrine South of Bačkovice

Another cultural landmark is the wayside shrine known as “Boží muka.” It stands in fields about one kilometre south of Bačkovice, at the Police–Dešná crossroads. It is listed as an immovable cultural monument in the planning area. Its location sets it clearly apart from the chapel in the village: here, the location also serves as a point of orientation in the surrounding landscape.

Bačkovice is therefore home to different kinds of history: the chapel as a landmark, the fortress destroyed in 1468 with a site that is only considered likely, and the wayside shrine outside the village. Visitors interested in cultural history can consider these points according to their individual character and location, rather than viewing them as a single ensemble.

Landscape and Regional Context

In the Bačkovice planning area, forests, watercourses, ponds and valley floodplains are among the significant landscape features. One side of the valley has a direct connection with the village: there, the forest reaches the houses of Bačkovice. The landscape description therefore encompasses both several different features in the area and a direct transition from forest to village buildings.

The regional biocentre RBC 544 Šimkův mlýn is also part of the village’s regional context. It extends into the cadastral area of Bačkovice. The name points to a regional ecological perspective; together with forests, watercourses, ponds and valley floodplains, it adds a landscape viewpoint to the cultural and historical themes.

Routes Through the Želetavka Valley

A route through the Želetavka Valley runs via Jemnice, Radotice, Bačkovice, Šimkův mlýn, Lubnice, Police and Jiratice, returning to Jemnice. Bačkovice is therefore on a described circuit that connects several places and ends back in Jemnice. For planning purposes, this return journey is a different feature from a route that simply goes as far as Bačkovice.

Marked cycle route 26 runs from Jemnice through the Želetavka Valley to Bačkovice. While the circular route lists a series of places and returns to Jemnice, the cycle route offers specific guidance through its number and the described course to the village. Check local trail conditions before setting out; for marked cycle route 26, the signage is also a practical guide. This makes it possible to consider the village’s cultural history and the routes through the valley as different, but equally concrete, ways to explore Bačkovice.

Discover more destinations: Dědice, Dalešice, Štěměchy, Koněšín, Nové Syrovice, Štěpkov, Šebkovice, Okříšky.

Go to the main travel overview: Třebíč District.