The chapel and wayside cross give the centre of Rácovice a cultural and historical focus. There are also traces of an older pond landscape, from a cascade created around 1700 to former fish farming. Travellers choosing a destination for its architectural history and landscape heritage will find two distinct perspectives here.
The chapel and landmarks in the village centre
The Chapel of Saints Cyril and Methodius was built in 1901. It stands on a grassy area by the village square in the centre of the village, directly beside the pond, and is a defining feature of the square. The historic village centre and the area around the square also include a public green space laid out as a park. Architectural and landscape features thus come together here, though they tell different stories: the chapel represents more recent architectural history, while other landmarks in the village are considerably older.
A cast wayside cross stands directly in front of the chapel. It is listed as a cultural monument under number 18117/7-3096. It has a stone plinth and trefoil terminals; the cast-iron corpus of Christ and the relief of Our Lady of Sorrows at its base complete its design. The relief dates from the 19th century. The statue of Saint John of Nepomuk in Rácovice also points to an earlier period: it is dated to the first half of the 18th century. This brings different historical reference points together in one place, from the chapel built in 1901 to the older religious sculptures.
Architectural history and local tradition
Further clues to the village’s history can be found in buildings that once served different purposes. A former sheepfold was converted into a residential building in 1896. Beside the pond, a historic granary is a prominent feature of the farmstead. These details do not point to a single period of construction, but to a history of use in which the purpose and form of individual buildings changed over time.
The history of a stone fortress is also part of Rácovice’s story. By the middle of the 14th century, it was probably already standing or under construction. Local tradition also tells of escape tunnels from the fortress, said to run beneath the front section of the former sheepfold. These tunnels have been little studied. This tentative account differs from the dated information about the chapel and the conversion of the sheepfold.
Ponds and landscape history
Rácovický Pond lies in the middle of the Bihanka Valley. A cascade of ponds along the left-hand side of the forest as far as Dědice was created around 1700. Another historical detail concerns the pond below Křivánky: it was once used for fish farming, and fish-holding ponds stood below its dam. These details shed light on different aspects of the history of the waterways: the creation of a cascade, on the one hand, and the former use of a pond, on the other.
Two locally significant routes cross in Rácovice. A municipal plan from 2016 notes that the existing network of field and farm tracks can also be used to some extent by pedestrians and cyclists. Check the conditions on the ground if you plan to use these routes.
Planning routes and your journey
Trains operated by České dráhy do not currently stop at Rácovice railway station; this information was checked on 24 August 2026. Check the timetable for your travel date before setting out, as rail services may change. This keeps the different travel details clear: the route network is described as usable only to a limited extent, while the statement about rail services refers specifically to trains operated by České dráhy.
If you are considering a holiday apartment in Rácovice, you can assess the cultural and historical attractions and your travel options together while keeping them distinct: the chapel, religious sculptures and pond history shape the character of the village; for your specific plans, the timetable and the condition of the routes also matter. This can help you decide whether Rácovice’s local history and landscape appeal to your travel interests.
Discover more destinations: Zvěrkovice, Příštpo, Čáslavice, Police, Hodov, Třebelovice, Komárovice, Svatoslav
See the overview of the wider region: Okres Třebíč.
