Police is especially worthwhile for travellers who do not want to reduce cultural history to a single building. Jewish heritage can be seen in the restored synagogue, at the cemetery and along Židovská Street; the chateau and RAF Museum add further historical points of interest. In addition, the “Po hradech, zámcích a zříceninách” route offers a way to include Police in a hike or cycling tour. You can choose the focus of your stay: architectural history, cemetery culture, sites of remembrance or outdoor activities.

Synagogue and cemetery: Jewish heritage from two perspectives

Built in 1759, the synagogue is a unique surviving example of a rural Baroque synagogue in the Czech Republic. It has been restored to its original appearance and houses a small permanent exhibition about the lives of the Jewish population in the countryside. Both its architectural form and the community’s way of life are brought into focus. After its reconstruction from 2012 to 2020, the restored synagogue was open to the public; check the current access arrangements before your visit.

The Jewish cemetery was established in the 17th century. It contains 260 gravestones; the oldest legible one dates from 1681. The cemetery’s establishment and the date of this gravestone provide different chronological reference points: one indicates when the site was founded, while the other points to an individual surviving testimony. Together with the synagogue, the cemetery offers another way to explore the history of the Jewish population in Police.

Surviving houses and places of remembrance

Židovská Street adds a row of surviving buildings to this perspective. Most of the 26 houses built in a planned layout along the street have been preserved. The buildings mentioned include a distillery at number 138 and a hospital with a bath at number 128. The house numbers help distinguish these two examples; at the same time, the street draws attention beyond individual religious buildings to other surviving houses.

The RAF Museum in Police addresses a different historical subject. It commemorates the courage, suffering and sacrifices of the airmen who joined the foreign resistance during the Second World War. It is therefore a separate place of remembrance alongside the synagogue, cemetery and chateau museum.

Chateau, museum and tower views

The chateau in Police houses a museum about Waldemar Matuška. It is the only museum about him in the Czech Republic and worldwide. Choosing this museum gives your visit a different focus from the synagogue’s architecture or the history of the cemetery. A chateau tour also includes access to the chateau tower, with views of the surrounding area. Check the current tour arrangements before your visit.

The chateau grounds are also home to Kavárna REPETE at Police 77. Pražírna REPETE roasts its own coffee in small batches. These details relate to the café’s location and the way its coffee is roasted, offering different points of reference for your local choices.

Exploring Police on foot or by bike

The “Po hradech, zámcích a zříceninách” route is suitable for hikers and cyclists and passes through Police between Jemnice and Lubnice. This specific route connection helps place Police along a named route. If you want to travel on foot or by bike, the route offers a convenient way to include the town in a tour. Route conditions may change; check the current route and its condition before setting out.

The cultural attractions and the route offer different points of focus: the synagogue, cemetery and Židovská Street highlight Jewish heritage and surviving architecture, while the chateau tours include the tower and its views. The RAF Museum adds another historic place of remembrance, and the route gives hikers and cyclists a distinct connection to Police. You can choose based on whether you are mainly interested in architecture and history or would also like to include the town in an active tour.

Discover more destinations: Předín, Častohostice, Babice U Lesonic, Loukovice, Nová Ves, Kuroslepy, Chlum, Nový Telečkov.

For the broader travel overview: Okres Třebíč.