Budčeves

Natural surroundings with unusual local stories

Budčeves combines a valuable natural environment with tangible traces of local history. If you would like to combine nature observation and historical discoveries when choosing your destination, you will find a variety of points of interest here: the Rybník Kojetín pond, the landscape of Perna, a circular village layout, and individual evidence from several centuries.

Rybník Kojetín and the protected areas

The Rybník Kojetín pond is a valuable habitat, particularly for waterfowl and amphibians. It is part of the nature monument of the same name and the Rožďalovické rybníky Natura 2000 Bird Protection Area (CZ20211010). The pond is also considered an important ornithological area. The Bird Protection Area protects populations of the western marsh harrier (Circus aeruginosus) and the common crane (Grus grus), as well as their habitats. The cadastral areas of Budčeves and Nečas are part of this protected area. The protected area therefore extends beyond the individual pond and includes land in two cadastral areas.

Another natural area is Perna. The Site of Community Importance encompasses the cadastral areas of Běchary, Budčeves, and Nečas. Its features include extensively mown lowland meadows extending into the foothill areas, as well as a very well-preserved complex of Hercynian oak-hornbeam forests. Perna thus combines open meadows with dense woodland. Perna Forest is considered a burial site of ancestors from ancient times. It is also regarded as a possible sacred grove; its name is said to derive from the Slavic god Perun.

Village Layout and Historical Evidence

Budčeves has a circular village layout associated with its ancient Czech origins. The village name also points to the past: Budčeves derives from the original owner of the fortress and estate, whose name was Budka or Budče. The Turyně fortress later disappeared as a result of the construction of an agricultural building that was used as a cowshed. There was once an extensive pond in the Pobočník field. The fortress itself has therefore not survived; an agricultural building took its place.

One of the notable individual landmarks is the statue of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary on the village green in Budčeves, beside the main road towards Kopidlno. The late Baroque artwork was created by an unknown sculptor. The village’s educational history can also be dated precisely: the school in Budčeves was founded in 1819, and the school building served as a school until 1977. More than a century and a half therefore passed between the establishment of the school and the end of its operation. The settlement of Nečas, meanwhile, was founded in 1780 on a drained pond.

Getting There and Further Discoveries

Budčeves has a bus stop served by bus route 585. In addition to its natural and historical traces, this provides a concrete starting point for getting there.

Other places you can discover in the same selection include Sběř, Kostelec, Rohoznice, Choteč, Češov, Brada-Rybníček, Osek, and Sekeřice.

For the broader travel overview: Jičín District.