Ratenice: Church, Nature Trail and Cycling Route

Ratenice combines church history, walking trails and a cycling route that passes through the town. The Church of St. James the Greater is a historical focal point; the “Marobudovi v patách” nature trail explores the history and present of the municipality. This gives your trip different points of focus: local culture, a walk, or a cycling connection linking several named places.

Church of St. James: Building History and Art

The Church of St. James the Greater in Ratenice has been listed in the Central Register of Cultural Monuments since 1976. Its original predecessor was built around the turn of the 13th and 14th centuries and was first mentioned in 1352. These dates refer to the historical predecessor, not the later artistic decoration: the paintings are by Adolf Liebscher and date from 1912.

The interior furnishings are also noteworthy: a fresco in the nave depicts the Assumption of Mary. The presbytery has a vaulted ceiling with a painting of Christ’s head, while the apse features a conch and lunettes. The medieval building history and the 1912 paintings thus provide two clearly distinct historical periods in the town’s cultural history. For travellers interested in culture, these motifs and architectural features offer a specific art-historical highlight in Ratenice.

The virtual municipal museum in the associated municipality adds another perspective on local history. It contains 900 documents, collected thanks to contributions from residents. The size of the digital collection may change over time. The residents’ contributions also give it a communal character.

Nature Trails and Cycling Routes for Active Days

The “Marobudovi v patách” nature trail explores the history and present of the municipality of Ratenice. It is a 3.5-kilometre circular route that starts and ends in the town centre. The trail is suitable for visiting year-round. Its start and finish in the town centre provide a clear geographical reference, while its circular layout makes it easy to plan as a standalone walk. This lets you consider the theme, length, starting point and endpoint together when planning your day. Check current route conditions before setting out.

For cycling, KČT cycling route 0125 runs from Pečky through Ratenice to Vrbová Lhota. A cycling link in Ratenice was built in 2013 as a 1,046-metre-long dedicated path alongside a class III road. The year refers to when the path was built; check current route conditions before your ride.

The different types of route offer distinct options for your plans: the nature trail is a loop starting and ending in the town centre, while cycling route 0125 links Pečky and Vrbová Lhota via Ratenice. You can choose between a local circular walk focused on a topic from the municipality and a cycling connection linking Ratenice with other named places.

A Culinary Highlight

On 26 July 2025, a Restaurant Day took place at the sports field in Ratenice, starting at 11 a.m. The festival format features pop-up restaurants that open for one day to serve friends or passers-by. The event is a specific example of a local food event; it took place in 2025.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Týnec Nad Labem, Vrátkov, Kořenice, Starý Kolín, Býchory, Přistoupim, Žehuň, Polní Voděrady.

For the broader travel overview: Kolín District.