Velký Bor – Village Church, Castle Traces and Cycling Routes

Velký Bor combines a remarkable historic villagescape with a landscape revealed around the church, former castle and Podkostelák Pond. Those looking for accommodation in Velký Bor will find not an interchangeable base, but a place with visible traces of several eras, a described route from the railway station to the village, and several cycling routes through Velký Bor and its immediate surroundings.

The Church of Saint John the Baptist

At the heart of the village’s history stands the Church of Saint John the Baptist, built in the 13th century. Fragmentary original wall paintings have survived inside. Architectural details also make the church an important destination for anyone who wants to view historic places from more than the outside: three bricked-up windows preserve remnants of tracery with trefoil forms. In addition, an Early Gothic portal leads into the sacristy vestibule.

The church tower contains five bells. One of them is Jan, a bell more than 500 years old. Its name and great age give the building an additional historical dimension, without tying the church to a single era.

Castle, Hospital and School as Historical Traces

The history of Velký Bor extends beyond the church. In 1765, Princess Marie of Löwenstein had a hospital with a chapel for retired estate officials built on the foundations of the demolished castle. The Romanesque castle chapel of Velký Bor is attached to this Baroque hospital. Thus, architectural evidence of the Romanesque, medieval and Baroque pasts meets in one place.

The former hospital building later acquired a different historical function: the municipality bought it in 1869 and established a school there. This use forms part of the village’s history and should be understood as a development from the past. Another small monument is the stone wayside cross Kříž u Benatky in Velký Bor. It is made of granite and bears the barely legible year 1843.

Pond Landscape and Cycling Routes

Podkostelák Pond offers a particularly vivid view of the ensemble of Velký Bor. Reflected in its surface are the site of the former castle on a hill, the church and the houses on the shore. This makes it possible to understand the relationship between the landscape and the village’s history directly through the appearance of the place.

Several cycling routes run through Velký Bor and its immediate surroundings. This provides concrete guidance when choosing accommodation if you would like to combine historic sightseeing with cycling trips.

From the Railway Station to Velký Bor

Velký Bor railway station lies south of the village, less than two kilometres away on the road to Horažďovice. From there, a path leads between fields to the Březový potok stream. It then continues to the confluence with the Velkoborský potok stream and follows the left bank of this stream into the village of Velký Bor.

Other Village Pages to Compare

If you would like to consider other destinations from the same selection alongside Velký Bor, you can find Chudenice, Hradešice, Frymburk U Sušice, Modrava, Červené Poříčí, Mezihoří, Klenová and Strážov here.

For the overarching travel overview: Klatovy District.