Hradčany – Chapel, History and Šišemka

Hradčany reveals its character within a compact area: the village lies in a valley through which the Šišemka stream flows and is geographically and culturally part of Lipenské Záhoří. This landscape lies between the Hostýnské vrchy and the Bečva. If you would like to combine natural surroundings and local history on your journey, you will encounter several clearly distinct themes here: landscape, religious heritage and historical traces.

Landscape and a Long Local History

Hradčany is mentioned in old documents, particularly ecclesiastical records, as early as 1160. This early mention gives the village a long historical perspective that is connected with the landscape of Lipenské Záhoří. The chapel and bell tower define the spacious village square, while the remains of the fortification in the forest between Hradčany and Pavlovice appear as elevations in the terrain on a low promontory. The religious architectural history thus remains anchored in the village centre, while the former fortification marks another historical site in the terrain; the Šišemka stream forms the landscape setting of the valley.

Chapel and Architectural History

The newly built Chapel of Saint Anthony of Padua defines Hradčany’s spacious village square. Its architectural history includes the construction of the nave of today’s chapel onto the bell tower in 2008. The wooden bell tower, which had existed since time immemorial, was converted into a brick bell tower in the mid-19th century. The chapel and bell tower thus point to several construction phases that form part of the village’s religious and architectural history.

Another religious monument is the statue of Our Lady of Svatý Hostýn. It dates from 1912 and was commissioned at the expense of Antonie Hrbáčková. Together with the chapel, it provides access to the religious traditions connected in Hradčany with specific places, dates and people.

Historical Traces in the Surroundings

The remains of Hradčany Fortress are located in the forest between Hradčany and Pavlovice. They appear as elevations in the terrain on a low promontory. This historical landscape trace adds another aspect to the village centre: while the chapel and bell tower define the visible architectural history, the elevations in the forest point to the former fortification.

A local tradition is also part of Hradčany’s distinctive world of stories. According to local legend, a water spirit lived at a footbridge over the Šišemka near Hradčany. The stream flowing through the valley thus appears not only as a geographical feature but also as the setting of a local legend.

Event and Orientation

Hradčanské Vlnky is a running competition and cross-country trail race held in October. This event can therefore provide a specific occasion when planning the timing of a trip. Hradčany also has a bus stop with a clock, a distinctive detail that helps with local orientation.

Discover More Places

For further research within this selection, you can also explore Veselíčko, Lazníčky, Hrabůvka, Křtomil, Černotín, Klokoci, Radkova Lhota and Buk.

For the higher-level travel overview: Okres Přerov.