Smilovy Hory – Architectural history and walking routes

Smilovy Hory is a destination for travelers who want to combine architectural history and routes through the village in a single stay. The Church of the Sending of the Apostles stands in the village center; the chapel on the village square shapes the local scene. Forests and bodies of water are also among the municipality’s areas of natural value.

A church with a history of construction

The Church of the Sending of the Apostles stands in the village center, and its tower is a prominent landmark visible from afar. Its architectural history spans several later changes, beginning with its Gothic origins in the 14th century: the church was remodeled in the Baroque style in 1677, altered in the Empire style from 1810 to 1812, and extended with a tower in 1903. This sequence tells the story of several historical stages rather than assigning the building to just one period. Those interested in architecture can place the changes in context by their dates: from its medieval origins through the Baroque and Empire periods to the early 20th-century tower.

The chapel on the village square

The chapel on the village square offers a second historical perspective. Built at the end of the 18th century, it is a Baroque chapel with a square floor plan, a rounded end, and a shingle-covered conical roof. It is also an urban design feature of the village square. This makes it interesting not only for its architectural form but also for its relationship to the square. While the church has a history of several remodeling phases, the chapel stands out for its distinctive form. Together, the two buildings offer different points of entry for exploring Smilovy Hory’s architecture.

Forests, water, and routes

The landscape is also part of the village’s character: the forests and bodies of water in the Smilovy Hory area are considered areas of natural value. The northeastern part of the administrative area also contains a regional biocorridor and a regional biocenter. The area’s natural features and these two elements, located in the northeast, add a distinct landscape perspective to the architectural history.

Two routes pass through Smilovy Hory. A green-marked hiking trail runs from Mladá Vožice to Načeradec. The “Na konci světa” route passes through Běleč and Smilovy Hory, along the Blatnických rybníků ponds, and onward to Radostovice. The two routes offer different ways to plan your trip: Mladá Vožice and Načeradec are the endpoints of the hiking trail, while the “Na konci světa” route can be followed by tracing the sequence of named places and ponds. You can choose whichever connection better suits your plans.

Which themes suit your stay?

When looking for a hotel, you can start by deciding what you would most like to focus on. If you are interested in architectural history, the church and the chapel on the village square are the village’s main attractions. If you would like to go hiking, a green-marked hiking trail passes through Smilovy Hory. The landscape, with its forests and bodies of water, offers another perspective on the municipal area.

Discover more destinations: Radenín, Horusice, Psárov, Sviny, Tábor, Hajky, Val, Bradáčov.

For the broader travel overview: Tábor District.