Šimonovice – Chapel, Rašovka Lookout Tower and ŠIMIFEST

Šimonovice between sacred architecture, panoramic views and music

Šimonovice reveals its character through three very different types of experience: a distinctive religious building in the village district of Minkovice, the Rašovka Lookout Tower on the Ještěd Ridge and the traditional ŠIMIFEST music festival. Here, you therefore encounter not just individual sights, but different forms of local culture – from the clearly structured architecture of a chapel and a distinctive building from more recent Czech history to a community festival featuring music and regional specialities.

The Chapel of Saint Anthony of Padua in Minkovice

The Chapel of Saint Anthony of Padua is a historicist, longitudinal, single-nave religious building. “Historicist” here means that its design draws on historical architectural forms. The chapel is oriented along a north–south axis and has a prismatic tower on its southern side. This combination of an elongated structure, clear orientation and tower gives the building a readily recognisable architectural order.

The chapel is located in the Minkovice district of the municipality of Šimonovice. On 3 April 2016, it was consecrated and dedicated to the Divine Mercy. For visitors interested in culture, this connects the appreciation of a specific building with a relatively recent date in the local history of sacred architecture. Those interested in regional architecture and the religious character of smaller communities will find a clearly defined cultural point of reference in Minkovice.

Rašovka on the Ještěd Ridge

The Rašovka Lookout Tower offers a different perspective on Šimonovice. Rašovka is a district of the municipality of Šimonovice; since 2006, the tower has stood on the edge of the Rašovka settlement on the Ještěd Ridge. It is the first privately built masonry lookout tower in the more recent history of the Czech Republic. The description therefore refers not only to its function, but also to its special position within the country’s recent architectural history.

The Rašovka Lookout Tower is 22.5 metres high. Together with the adjoining restaurant, it opened on 10 June 2006 on the occasion of the Svatoantonínská pouť pilgrimage. This connection in time also makes the site interesting as an example of how a lookout structure, a dining venue and a regional festival can be linked without turning it into an ordinary list of sights.

ŠIMIFEST: Music and regional refreshments

ŠIMIFEST is a traditional music festival of the municipality of Šimonovice. At the 2026 edition on 22 August 2026, the programme included live music by regional bands, tastings of regional beers, and sweet and savoury refreshments. The festival thus complements the more permanent cultural points of Minkovice and Rašovka with an explicitly community-oriented occasion. The local character of the event is particularly clear: music from the region meets regional drinks and a selection of sweet and savoury dishes.

More destinations for your Czech Republic research

If you would like to explore destinations beyond Šimonovice, the wider selection includes Bílý Potok, Zaskali, Kunratice, Nová Ves U Chrastavy, Příšovice, Fojtka, Kobyly and Hodkovice Nad Mohelkou.

For the higher-level travel overview: Liberec District.