Sloveč – Village Church, Pilgrimages and Local Culture

Sloveč Between the Village Green and Memorial Sites

If you are looking for a place with a manageable layout and several different cultural themes, Sloveč reveals its distinctive character around the historic village green, the Church of St. Martin, religious art and local memorial sites. These are complemented by pilgrimages, traditional event days and a stream that rises in the forest and feeds the local ponds. The various sites give you the opportunity to get to know Sloveč through its architectural history, faith, remembrance and local traditions.

Churches, Statues and Monuments

At the center of the historic village green stands the Church of St. Martin, a Neo-Romanesque church dating from 1886. In front of the church stands a statue of the Virgin Mary with the Christ Child. It was created by Kofránek from Vojice in 1875. Sloveč is also home to a stone cross, a work of stone masonry by Karel Kofránek from 1857. In the village’s sacred art, you therefore encounter Kofránek in two different works.

Further memorial sites address different themes. Next to the school in Sloveč stands a monument to those who fell in the First World War. It was unveiled in 1921 and bears a commemorative plaque dedicated to local legionnaires. By the former school stands a statue of the Crucified Christ, a work by F. Stýbla from 1857. There is also a monument to land reform from the period of the First Republic on the road to Městec Králové. In Sloveč, religious sculptures, personal remembrance and historical events can thus be viewed side by side.

Pilgrimages and Jiřinkové dny

The regular events also shape Sloveč’s cultural character. A pilgrimage is held on Corpus Christi. A Marian pilgrimage takes place on September 12, and the St. Martin’s church festival is held on November 11. Each of these occasions places its own religious emphasis on the calendar and makes local tradition an important part of the year.

The traditional Jiřinkové dny offer a different focus. They provide an opportunity to visit a planting free of charge, featuring 1,500 plants in more than 300 varieties. Alongside the church and memorial sites, this adds an independent botanical theme. The large number of plants and varieties makes the planting a clearly defined highlight for anyone who would also like to take local events and garden culture into account during their stay.

Getting Around the Village

The stream is a distinctive natural feature for orientation in the area: it rises in the forest and feeds the local ponds. Neither a hiking trail nor a cycle route passes through Sloveč. At the same time, the village is regularly served by bus connections toward Městec Králové and Nový Bydžov. When planning your visit, you can consider cultural events, sacred sights and the available connections separately, without reducing Sloveč to just one type of experience.

For further travel planning, you can also visit these places: Oskořínek, Dobšice, Kostomlaty Nad Labem, Kostomlátky, Hrubý Jeseník, Záhornice, Straky and Kněžičky.

To the higher-level travel overview: Nymburk District.