Velešovice – Nature, Sacred Buildings and Routes

Velešovice brings together landscape, regional history and sacred buildings within a small area. The village lies in the valley of the Rakovec stream, on its left bank. This creates a destination where nature observation, cultural and historical discoveries, and routes through the surrounding area can be combined – without any one theme defining the character of the place.

Landscape along the Rakovec

A prominent landmark in the cadastral territory of Velešovice is Stará hora. At 301 metres, it is the highest point in the area. The Biocentre Vrchní rybník provides a different focal point in the landscape: it covers 12 hectares and includes a pond, a wetland and open ditches supplying water. Since it was established, new animal and plant species have gradually returned to the area. In addition to open countryside, Velešovice therefore offers a specific place where the development of an ecologically oriented area can be observed.

Sacred buildings with a history of their own

The Church of St Barbara is a High Baroque building dating from 1731–1732 and a prominent feature of Velešovice’s sacred district. It is also registered as an immovable cultural monument. The Chapel of St John of Nepomuk on the village square provides a distinctly more recent historical accent. It was built in 1867 by local residents on the site of an earlier small chapel. The chapel complex includes an originally Classicist chapel and a Classicist statue of St John of Nepomuk dating from 1803.

The chapel is also associated with a tradition that reaches into the more recent history of the village: since 1993, Mass has been celebrated there every year on 16 May, the feast day of St John of Nepomuk. Those who wish to discover not only major buildings but also local religious traditions while travelling will therefore find two sacred points of interest with distinct characters in Velešovice.

Routes through landscape and history

Velešovice lies on the cycling route Through the Land of the Battle of Three Nations, which is 58.65 kilometres long. The educational trail Battle of Slavkov Educational Trail also passes through the village and is 34.7 kilometres long. The two options have different focuses: the cycling route places Velešovice within a longer journey, while the educational trail explores the history of the Slavkov Battlefield.

The protected heritage zone of the Slavkov Battlefield, designated in 1992, lies in the immediate vicinity of Velešovice. It covers 17 municipalities. For your travel planning, this connection creates a clear link between the village, its surroundings and a larger historic landscape.

The Kříž SMÍŘENÍ and its three routes

Another distinctive destination is the Kříž SMÍŘENÍ of Velešovice. The 6.5-metre-high oak cross stands southeast of and above Velešovice. Three described routes lead to it: from below via the apiary and the Velešovice orchard, from above via the model aircraft field above Rousínov, or from the car park above the golf course. These three different starting points make the site particularly interesting if you want to structure your outing according to the desired direction or chosen access route.

Transport connections

Velešovice is served by the IDS JMK integrated transport system and has six bus stops.

The same broader area also includes Podivice, Zbýšov U Slavkova, Nemotice, Bohaté Málkovice, Tučapy, Křižanovice, Lysovice and Nesovice.

To the higher-level travel overview: Vyškov District.