Hnojice – Haná History and Cycling

Hnojice is a typical municipality in the fertile Haná region. Its town center has the shape of a closed ellipse, known as an old Slavic okrouhlice. The technical term describes the characteristic shape of the settlement. For visitors interested in culture, the appeal therefore lies not only in individual buildings: the layout of the settlement is also part of the character of the place. A Lusatian cremation grave discovered in Hnojice is classified as a Slavic archaeological find from the 6th century. Flint tools found in the Mošťánky field near Hnojice are attributed to the Mesolithic or Neolithic period and dated to around 3000 BC. The finds date back far earlier than the preserved monuments and add a prehistoric dimension to the historic town center.

Religious Buildings and Historical Monuments

The present Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary was built from 1806 to 1812 after the previous church burned down. In the park next to it stands a statue of Saint John of Nepomuk. It bears the signature dated 1732 and comes from the workshop of the master Jiří Antonín Heinz of Uničov. Another religious building is the Chapel of Saint Florian on the southeastern edge of the settlement: it stands on a bend in the road to Lužice and is a work of Haná Baroque from 1701.

Other historical landmarks include the Hnojice reconciliation cross and the Calvary cross. The reconciliation cross stands at the intersection of the roads to Šternberk and Moravská Huzová. It is the only and oldest monument of its kind in the municipality. The Calvary cross bears a Latin commemorative inscription from 1817.

Haná Traditions and Cycling Route

The traditional Haná fairs take place every year in August, on the second Saturday and Sunday after the feast of Saint Lawrence. They include entertainment events, various exhibitions, and performances by ensembles of the Hagnózek civic association from Hnojice. The fixed date gives your planning a specific time reference.

For active days, the “Za krásami přírody” cycling route is a clearly defined destination: it passes through Hnojice and forms a 42-kilometer circular route from Šternberk. The route is largely flat, with little elevation gain, and is suitable for all age groups. The combination of a circular course, its length, and the small elevation gain makes it easier to fit the tour into different day plans. This provides three specific reference points for planning an active day: the starting point in Šternberk, the route length of 42 kilometers, and the small elevation gain. Hnojice is also suitable as a stopover for cyclists traveling from Olomouc or Litovel via Šternberk into the Nízký Jeseník mountains. The specific length and low elevation profile help you assess how to fit this cycling loop into your travel plans.

For orientation in the area, Road II/447 connects Hnojice with the neighboring villages of Lužice and Žerotín. If you would like to broaden your selection, you will also find Střeň, Šumvald, Senička, Luká, Slatinice, Stepanov, Věrovany and Chomoutov U Olomouce.

For the broader travel overview: Olomouc District.