Šimanov – Chapel, Crafts and Local History

Šimanov combines small religious monuments, a long history and traces of traditional craftsmanship. Anyone travelling in the Czech Republic who wants to get to know not only well-known sights but also the character of a place will find several specific points of interest here: a Baroque chapel in the centre, the first known written mention from 1305, a traditional basket-making heritage, an inn with a grocery shop and a leisure facility.

Chapel and religious monuments in the village

In the centre of Šimanov stands the Chapel of St John of Nepomuk. The building is a Baroque chapel and was completely renovated in 2012. Thus, a historic architectural style and a precisely dated chapter of the village’s more recent history come together in a central location. For exploring Šimanov, the chapel provides a particularly tangible focal point around which the cultural character of the village can be understood.

The religious heritage also includes several smaller monuments with their own designations. The religious monument Boží muka Šimanov bears the number 17. The religious monument Křížek u Niebauerů is marked with the number 19 and bears the inscription “Praise be to Christ”. The religious monument Křížek u kapličky sv. Jana bears the number 20; its inscription reads “God bless this community”. The names, numbers and inscriptions give these monuments a specific identity and distinguish them from one another. The inscriptions refer to Christ and the blessing of the community.

History and traditional craftsmanship

The first known written mention of Šimanov is an entry from 1305 concerning dues paid by its inhabitants to Windberg Premonstratensian Monastery. This year does not simply indicate the general age of the village, but points to a specific historical context and to the documented connection between its inhabitants and the monastery. The documented history of the village therefore reaches back to the early 14th century.

Another distinctive feature lies in the inhabitants’ former craft activities. Historically, they were known for making baskets and carrying baskets. They took their products to the markets of all the cities and towns in the upper Otava region. Šimanov thus appears not only as a place with religious monuments, but also as a community with a traditional history of everyday life and the local economy.

Local information for your stay

The Šimanovský potok stream flows through Šimanov. Together with the small road that runs between two second-class roads and connects Šimanov with the surrounding area, it describes two specific features of the village’s location. When choosing accommodation and planning the rest of your trip, the village therefore offers its own points of reference: there is an inn with a grocery shop and a leisure facility in the village.

If you would like to compare other destinations for your trip in addition to Šimanov, you can also include Dražovice, Petrovice U Sušice, Ujčín, Bolešiny, Kvášňovice, Předslav, Křenice and Pačejov as part of your research.

For the broader travel overview: Klatovy District.