Chelčice: History, Gardens and Trails

Chelčice combines impressive sacred buildings, the history of Petr Chelčický, a certified natural garden and fruit-growing traditions with trails for cyclists and walkers. If you would like to combine culture and nature when planning your day, you will find a wide variety of reasons for your day trip here.

Historic Places in the Village

On the village square, the memorial to Petr Chelčický is housed in a medieval barn created through reconstruction. The ground floor contains a regional exhibition about Chelčicko and the Libějovicko-Lomecko heritage conservation zone. Visits must be arranged by telephone several days in advance.

The Church of St. Martin is a late Romanesque church dating from around 1240. Its original Romanesque portal has been preserved on the south side. The church is accessible during the regular Sunday services held from 11 a.m. By prior arrangement at the neighboring Domov svatého Linharta, it can also be visited together with the exhibition about Petr Chelčický. Another distinctive sight is the early Baroque hexagonal Chapel of St. Mary Magdalene, built between 1660 and 1663 and rebuilt between 1687 and 1710.

Natural Garden and Events

The natural garden of Chelčický domov sv. Linharta has held the „Přírodní zahrada“ certificate since July 2012. It includes vegetable beds, fruit trees, an insect hotel and various herbs. A therapeutic path and seating areas invite visitors to rest and relax.

For many years, the garden has participated in the Open Gardens Weekend, held on the second weekend of June. It has included guided tours focusing on aromatherapy and herbalism, a workshop on glazing ceramics and the opportunity to sit casually in the garden.

Cycling, Hiking and Regional Fruit Culture

The Zeyerova Trail leads from the royal town of Vodňany through Chelčice along a four-row avenue. For longer cycling trips, Cycle Route 1 is a clearly defined option: it is 48 km long, challenging and has its kilometre point 0.0 in Chelčice. A regular cycling tourism event associated with this route takes place annually in May and September.

Regional identity also includes the cherry variety „Libějovická raná“ and the apple variety „Petr Chelčický“, both cultivated in Chelčice. A marked route from Lomec leads along an old avenue past the Chapel of St. Mary Magdalene to the road to Chelčice.

Annual Festivals

The Slavnosti květů is an annual festival of fruit growers from the Chelčicko-Lhenický microregion. During the „jízda květů“ on 3 May 2025, numerous cyclists and walkers set out from the historic center of Chelčice. The Svatojánské slavnosti took place on Friday, 19 June 2026, at Chelčický domov sv. Linharta in Chelčice and celebrated the summer solstice, summer, herbs and fire. During the pilgrimage to Saint Mary Magdalene, the pilgrimage mass at St. Martin was followed by a traditional gathering in the natural garden.

Other Places to Research

You can also explore Třešovice, Milčice, Mutěnice, Němětice, Malenice Nad Volynkou, Čichtice, Chrášťovice and Pivkovice.

For the higher-level travel overview: Okres Strakonice.