At the southern foot of the Hostýnské vrchy lies Lechotice, a place with historical traces in the village centre and destinations for outings in the surrounding area. If you would like to combine village history and nature observation on your trip, you will find a range of points of interest here: from the village square of Dědina and the tradition of Staré hanácké právo to the polder on the Žídelná stream.
Landscape and regional setting
Lechotice lies at the southern foot of the Hostýnské vrchy and below the wooded slopes of the Zlínská vrchovina. The village is also situated on the boundary between Kroměřížsko and Zlínsko. These connections help place the village in its landscape and regional context: the Hostýnské vrchy and the wooded slopes of the Zlínská vrchovina are distinct points of reference, while Kroměřížsko and Zlínsko describe its position on a regional boundary.
When planning, it is worth keeping the different themes separate rather than combining them into a supposedly fixed route. The information about historic buildings concerns the village centre; the described route to the lookout tower and the polder offer separate interests for outings. Depending on your priorities, you can decide whether to focus mainly on local history, a route with a stated distance or nature observation.
Dědina village square and historic buildings
A masonry bell tower is the defining building on Dědina village square. In front of it stands a memorial erected in 1921 to soldiers who fell in the First World War. The bell tower and memorial are surrounded by a green area with seating in peaceful surroundings. The buildings, memorial and square together provide a clear historical point of reference in the village, without requiring an indoor visit.
The surviving farmsteads also tell the story of the village square’s former appearance: only two of the once-grand farmsteads still stand there in their original form. The former village school adds another perspective on local history. It was built in 1868. After a new school was built in 1912, the former school building was used as a smithy and as the family home of František Karlík.
Two images of the Virgin Mary mark other locations in Lechotice. The image of the Virgin Mary of Svatý Hostýn stands by the pond on the road towards Mysločovice. Another image of the Virgin Mary is located in the south-eastern part of the older settlement. Their precise locations distinguish the two points and help you avoid confusing them when finding your way around.
Traditions and dates
Staré hanácké právo has survived in its traditional form in several eastern Hanakian municipalities, including Lechotice, as well as Sazovice, Mysločovice, Racková and Machová. This places the local culture in a broader regional context without attributing the tradition to Lechotice alone. The Bartolomějské hody are also held regularly in Lechotice in August. If you would like to plan your trip around the festival, check the specific event dates and programme in advance: its regular occurrence in August does not establish particular dates or programme items. Tour de Žídelná also has a checkpoint in Lechotice.
An outing area with a dance floor adds another village location to the cultural and historical points of interest described here. Lechotice’s travel offering therefore includes both permanent features, such as the bell tower and the images, and recurring occasions, such as the August hody. This distinction is useful when planning a trip: buildings and local features can be visited regardless of an event date, while attending a festival depends on the specific dates.
Route to the lookout tower and outing to the polder
The route “From Lechotice to the Na Strážné Lookout Tower” leads from Lechotice to the lookout tower and is listed as a 3.6-kilometre round trip. The distance therefore refers to the entire journey there and back. This route and destination offer a specific option for travellers who want to include an outing with a stated distance in their plans. Route conditions and access may change, so check conditions before setting out.
The polder on the Žídelná stream behind Lechotice, towards Racková, offers a different focus. It is considered a popular destination for cycling tourists. The reservoir also offers the opportunity to observe water birds and life around the basin. The two outings therefore offer different experiences: the route to the lookout tower has a stated round-trip distance, while the polder is associated with its location by the stream, its popularity as a cycling destination and opportunities for nature observation.
If you are looking for accommodation for your stay, you can choose Lechotice according to the focus of your trip: village history and regional tradition, the route to the lookout tower or an outing to the polder.
Discover more destinations: Kostelec U Holešová, Hoštice, Kyselovice, Chropyně, Žeranovice, Vrbka, Míškovice, Prusinovice.
For the broader travel overview: Okres Kroměříž.
