Starovičky: Church, Stations of the Cross and Regional Traditions

Starovičky brings together historical traces, scenic views and vibrant regional customs within a compact thematic area. St. Catherine’s Church is particularly distinctive, serving as the most important historical monument and a landmark of the village. It dates from the 15th century; its form is reminiscent of single-nave Romanesque churches. Together with the Stations of the Cross, the U Obrázku Viewing Tower and the traditional Hody celebrations, this creates a destination where culture can be experienced not only in buildings, but also in festivals, paths and views across the landscape.

Church, Stations of the Cross and Viewing Tower

The Stations of the Cross consist of 14 stations in the form of crosses made from steel profiles. The project was initiated by Father Václav Drbola and was created near historic stone wayside shrines dating from the 15th century. It was intended to connect these shrines with the U Obrázku Viewing Tower. Those interested in religious art, regional history and distinctive landmarks will find several different forms of commemoration here: the historic church, the wayside shrines and the Stations of the Cross.

The present-day U Obrázku Viewing Tower was built on the site of the former Vyhlídka U Obrázku lookout and was approved for use on 11 December 2020. The tower includes a covered shelter with seating. From there, visitors have an unobstructed view of the Pavlovské vrchy hills, the Pálava lakes and the Malé Karpaty Protected Landscape Area. This makes it possible to complement a visit shaped by cultural history with a clear landscape element without losing sight of the historical points of interest.

Festivals and Customs in Starovičky

The Krojové Hody folk-costume festival takes place on the fourth Saturday and Sunday in July. The Hody programme includes a festive procession of the Stárci and the costumed Chasa through the village, followed by an evening Hody celebration. Starovičky belongs to the Hanácké Slovácko region, represented here by a southern variant of the Haná-Slovak folk costume. For your travel planning, this means there is a specific period when traditional dress, the procession and the communal festival are at the centre of events.

The Zabíjačka s vinaři event is also part of the local event culture. It is one of two regularly held events with a wine and folk theme organised by the Starovičky Winemakers’ Association. The Café at the Lavandia Lavender Farm offers another culinary aspect: it serves homemade lavender lemonade, selected coffee, cakes and ice cream. The Lavandia Lavender Farm also welcomes cyclists and provides bicycle racks in the lavender field. At the wayside shrines near Starovičky, there is also an information board and seating.

Special Experiences for Your Visit

The IX Pilgrimage on Foot offers a religiously oriented experience. A prayer at the cemetery is followed by a walk to the Stations of the Cross, Mass in the church at 4 p.m. and then a communal gathering at the parish house. This set sequence shows Starovičky from a different perspective than the viewing tower or the Hody celebrations: the focus here is not on an individual destination, but on the sequence of prayer, walking, Mass and fellowship.

If you would like to compare Starovičky with other places, you can then include Týnec, Valtice, Bořetice, Velké Hostěrádky, Podivín, Starovice, Pavlov and Velké Němčice in your further selection.

For the broader travel overview: Břeclav District.