Bílkovice: A village between forests, mills and the Chotýšanka

Bílkovice lies in a valley between forests and near a well-known quarry. The Chotýšanka flows through the village, while paths, mills, local association history and the Chapel of Saint Anthony reveal different aspects of the village. If you are planning a stay in a smaller Czech settlement with natural scenery, regional history and various options for excursions, Bílkovice offers several specific points of interest.

Landscape and water around Bílkovice

The Chotýšanka passes through Bílkovice. For canoeists, only the 11.5-kilometre section from the dam of the Smikov pond to its confluence with the Vlašimská Blanice is navigable. This also makes the river interesting when planning a specific excursion, as the usable section is clearly defined. Natural activities available to visitors include swimming, for example.

Hiking and cycling on designated routes

A green-marked hiking trail leads from Domašín railway station via Kalamajka Hill and the Onšovice trail junction to Bílkovice and onward to the town square in Divišov. For cyclists, Cycle Route 0072 runs through Olbramovice, Postupice, Chotýšany, Bílkovice, Divišov and Český Šternberk. Those looking for accommodation can therefore regard Bílkovice as a stop within a longer excursion route, without reducing the route to a single circular trail.

Chapel, sports and village history

The Chapel of Saint Anthony stands on its own square in the centre of the village. It was built in 1926 at the expense of the miller and former member of parliament Josef Olt. The chapel contains an image of Saint Anthony, which was restored in 1998. Bílkovice’s sports facilities include a football pitch and a nohejbal court. The activities of TJ Sokol Bílkovice included sports training for women and men, as well as a football team. The history of the local association therefore adds another aspect of village life to the sports facilities.

The former association and cultural life is also part of the village’s history. In the 1920s, a reading and amateur theatre group was founded in Bílkovice; it performed in Bílkovice as well as in neighbouring villages and the wider surrounding area. In the 1970s, a local girls’ dance group performed Old Bohemian dances at regional festivals and celebrations. The former amateur theatre was centred in the small hall at U Litošů, where three plays were performed twice each year.

Mills on the Chotýšanka

A particular historical connection with the Chotýšanka is the Bílkovický, Oltův mlýn. The large, compact mill lies 500 metres downstream from Radošovický mlýn. In a manorial assessment dated 16 September 1743, it was recorded as a mill with two sets of milling equipment. In Bílkovice, the river landscape and documented local history are thus closely connected within a limited area.

Other places to search

If you would like to compare other places besides Bílkovice, you can find Chlum, Vrchotovy Janovice, Neveklov, Pavlovice, Hulice, Krivacek, Řehenice and Chářovice here.

For the higher-level travel overview: Benešov District.