Besiny: Churches, Cycle Path and Hiking Trail to the Ruins

Besiny combines a distinctive local history with two clearly different routes for active days and cultural discoveries. The focus is on the churches of St. Bartholomew and the Visitation of the Virgin Mary, as well as the cycle path between Klatovy and Běšiny and the hiking trail to the ruins on Bartoloměj. This allows you to plan your stay around history, outdoor activities or a mixture of both themes.

Church history spanning several eras

The Church of St. Bartholomew was built around 1370 in the Gothic style. Its history is marked by several clearly dated turning points: it burned down in 1579 and was subsequently restored; in 1788, it was abandoned. Thus, a medieval origin, restoration and the later history of its use come together in a single building.

The Church of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary adds another development to this picture. Originally, it was a castle chapel built in 1654. The former chapel was later converted into a single-nave parish church. The church also features a large granite gravestone, which was brought there from St. Bartholomew’s in 1845. For your travel planning, the local history therefore offers specific points of reference: you will see not only individual religious buildings, but also changes in their function and their connection over time.

Cycling between Klatovy and Běšiny

The 11 km cycle path connects Klatovy and Běšiny. It runs through the Drnový stream valley and entirely away from the main road. At 11 kilometres, the route provides a clear framework for day planning; its course through the valley and away from the main road shapes the local character. Cycle Route No. 38 is also part of the international Prague–Munich cycle route. For a stay focused on cycling, the options therefore range from a regional connection to a route with an international course.

Hiking trail to the ruins on Bartoloměj

The hiking trail to the ruins on Bartoloměj begins at the church in Běšiny and leads through Machov. Information boards in Czech and German are located at its five stations. German-speaking visitors can therefore follow the historical context directly in German, while the trail also connects several stations with one another.

Machov is described as the original settlement of Běšiny. This reference forms part of the historical context of the trail and adds another connection to the local history alongside the ruins on Bartoloměj.

Choose accommodation based on your travel focus

If you are looking for accommodation in Besiny, you can first decide whether the churches and their history or the cycle and hiking trails will be the focus of your days. For a cycling tour, the connection between Klatovy and Běšiny is the key geographical reference.

Further places to research

For further travel planning, you can also open Velký Bor, Bilenice, Nezamyslice, Velhartice, Dlažov, Bezděkov U Klatov, Hojsova Stráž and Tužice.

For the higher-level travel overview: Klatovy District.