Dolní Chvatliny: Church, memorial plaque and a stone cross

Dolní Chvatliny can be explored through three specific historical landmarks: the Church of St. Peter and Paul, the memorial plaque to legionnaire Bohuslav Škrdla, and a stone cross bearing a date that is open to interpretation. They represent different ways of reading local history: a building with a recorded completion and blessing, a memorial that endured the war and postwar period, and a monument whose date remains uncertain. The village is also situated on the Voděradský potok, 11 kilometres southwest of Kolín, at an altitude of 295 metres. For your travel planning, this brings together cultural history and a clear geographical reference, while keeping the building’s history, commemoration and uncertain date distinct as separate topics.

Church of St. Peter and Paul

The Church of St. Peter and Paul was completed in 1828. On 6 July, it was blessed by Josef Ballaty, vicar and parish priest of Svojšice, in the presence of the count’s family. Here, a blessing means a church consecration; the occasion was therefore more than a construction date. The year marks the completion of the building, while the named day, the clergyman and the family in attendance provide specific details about the church occasion. For anyone interested in a place’s history, this offers a precisely dated point of reference as well as a glimpse of the setting in which the church was blessed.

The memorial plaque and its history

The memorial plaque to legionnaire Bohuslav Škrdla was taken down during the Second World War and hidden in the school attic. On 15 June 1947, it was ceremonially unveiled in the presence of Major Klíma. The names of Josef Štika, his wife Marie, and their 18-year-old daughter Hana were added; the three were executed on 13 June 1942 during the Heydrich era. The dates point to two different moments: the executions in 1942 and the ceremonial unveiling five years later. Between them was the wartime period, when the plaque was hidden. For travellers interested in local history, this memorial connects the remembrance of individual people with the plaque’s own eventful history.

A stone cross with an uncertain date

The date recorded on the stone cross is 1860. However, traces of an alteration can be seen on the second zero. Therefore, 1860 cannot be read with certainty as the year it was erected: 1800 remains a possibility as the construction date, while 1860 could refer to a renovation. A 2017 description reported that the monument was partially damaged. This statement about its condition relates to that point in time and does not indicate its current condition. The cross thus offers a different kind of historical reference from the church and memorial plaque: the church has a stated completion year, the plaque has recorded events and dates, and the reading of the date on the cross remains open to interpretation.

Location and accommodation

Dolní Chvatliny is situated on the Voděradský potok, 11 kilometres southwest of Kolín, at an altitude of 295 metres. These details provide different points of reference: the stream identifies the local geographical setting, the distance and direction place the village in relation to Kolín, and the altitude adds further context. This allows you to locate Dolní Chvatliny on a map and connect its geographical setting with the village’s historical themes. If you are looking for accommodation because of the local history, you can choose Dolní Chvatliny as your hotel search destination and tailor your selection to your location preferences.

Discover more destinations

Pašinka, Vrbčany, Horní Kruty, Kořenice, Křečhoř, Tři Dvory, Volárna, Lošany.

For the overview of the wider region: Kolín District.