Vitice: Discover History, Trails and Cultural Landscapes

Vitice combines striking evidence of Bohemian history with a landscape that can be explored on foot. In the village and its immediate surroundings, a medieval church, monuments commemorating the Battle of Lipany, historic trails and distinctive landscape features come together. If you would like to combine culture and activity, you will find several different themes here to help plan your trip.

History Made Visible in Individual Places

The protected grounds of the Church of St. Simon and Judas include the church, the bell tower, the surrounding wall and the gate. The church has late Romanesque origins dating from the early 13th century and was rebuilt in the Gothic style around 1380. It is considered one of the most valuable examples of Gothic architecture in Central Bohemia. The bell tower by the church is a Renaissance tower built shortly before 1560 and preserves an original bell from the same year. A niche chapel in Vitice was built in 1920 for a Baroque sandstone statue of St. John of Nepomuk dating from around 1780.

Another focal point lies above Lipany. The Lipany Mound is a monument to Prokop Holý, unveiled above Lipany on 4 September 1881. Since 1965, it has been included in the state list of cultural monuments. Historical re-enactments of the Battle of Lipany have continued to take place there every May. The Lipany Mound educational trail begins with an introductory information board in the municipality of Vitice. Further stops present the history of the surrounding municipalities and the local nature.

Walking Trails and Distinctive Features in the Surroundings

The Čertova brázda runs through Vitice, a remnant of a prehistoric route consisting of sunken lanes and ditches. Another distinctive landmark is the triangular spur known as “Kozí hrádek”: it lies 300 metres northwest of the Church of St. Simon and Judas, above the Bylanka stream. The Vitické pěšiny concept comprises a network of walking trails connecting Vitice with Dobré Pole, Lipany, Hřiby, Chotýš and Močedník. This allows you to plan your outing around cultural and historical sites and trails through the landscape, depending on whether history, nature or activity is your main focus.

The nearby area also includes the hill “Na Hrádku [Vitice]”. The hills “(Ke Klučovu) [Klučov-Lstiboř]”, “Velká Stráž [Vrbčany]” and “Stará Kouřim [Kouřim]” are located in the surroundings of Vitice. The Práče fortification lies in the wider regional area around Vitice. These different names make it clear that the excursion destinations consist not only of a single historic structure, but also of trails, hills and regional places of remembrance.

More Destinations for Your Research

If you would like to extend your search to other places, you will also find: Krychnov, Cerhenice, Horní Kruty, Přistoupim, Choťovice, Polní Voděrady, Malotice and Drahobudice.

To the higher-level travel overview: Kolín District.