A windmill designated a national cultural monument, chapels, and memorial sites give Bařice-Velké Těšany a clear cultural focus. Protected natural areas can also be found nearby, and a cycling route runs around Velké Těšany. Those interested in architectural and local history will find different points of interest from travellers who want to focus on nature destinations or cycling.
Windmill and cycling route in Velké Těšany
The Velké Těšany windmill was declared a national cultural monument in 2014. It stands on the southwestern slope above the village, near Chvaletiny Forest and about 200 m from the road leading to the neighbouring municipality of Vrbky. The mill has been open to the public since 1979; check the current operating conditions before travelling.
For a cycling excursion, there is a clearly described route: a cycling path runs around Velké Těšany and connects Kroměříž with Bunč via Vrbka and Kostelany. This provides a named cycling route as a distinct reason to visit, alongside the individual cultural and natural attractions.
Protected nature and trails
The Velké Těšany memorial lime tree is registered as a protected tree and stands on the road to Těšnovice. It is a frequent destination for walks and a place to rest. About 1 km north of Velké Těšany lies the protected natural monument of Obora, on the gently wooded slope of the hill of the same name, which is also called Hvězda. The lime tree is therefore a distinctive tree by a road, while Obora is a natural monument on a wooded slope.
Skalka u Trňáku offers a different landscape: a sunny grass-covered slope on the edge of the Chřiby, west of Velké Těšany. From Velké Těšany, you can reach Skalka via a field road towards the junction near Zlámanka, then continue in the direction of Drahlov. The open grassy slope is very different from the wooded slope of Obora.
The Stezky Severními Chřiby trail network includes information boards, signposts at trail junctions, viewpoints, and benches. Some sections also have educational features for children. The signposts and boards mentioned here provide a different kind of orientation from the specific location details for the lime tree, Obora, and Skalka.
Chapels, festivals, and memorial sites
The chapel in Bařice was built in 1909 on the site of an older wooden bell tower. It was consecrated to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus on 24 October of the same year. A Mass with an accompanying programme is held there every year on the second Saturday in June. If you are planning your trip around this date, check the specific event details before travelling.
The Chapel of St Florian in Velké Těšany was completed in 1926 and dedicated to St Florian. Today, it hosts regular religious ceremonies and is the centre of the local parish feast celebrations each year around St Florian’s Day. While the Mass in Bařice is held on a fixed Saturday in June, the celebrations in Velké Těšany are tied to St Florian’s Day.
In front of the chapel in Velké Těšany stands a war memorial erected in 1946 to honour residents who fell in the First and Second World Wars. Other memorial sites have their own dedications and historical contexts: the cemetery cross from 1922 in Bařice is dedicated to residents who fell in the First World War. The statue of Panny Marie na Potokách was consecrated on 13 June 1920 and restored in 2010. Buried beneath the stone cross from 1851 on the road to Těšnovice are victims of the Austro-Prussian War of 1866 and the cholera outbreak in Velké Těšany. In the park at the lower end of the village, the repaired cross from 1904 was solemnly consecrated on 3 October 1999.
Discover more destinations: Chvalnov-Lísky, Záříčí, Dřínov, Kostelany, Vítonice, Míškovice, Břest, Pravčice.
For the broader travel overview: Kroměříž District.
