Chotiněves – Village History and Routes to Hořidla

Chotiněves is a place where village architecture and a landscape shaped by fields meet with views of the ridge of the České středohoří. The elongated, spindle-shaped village green gives the place a clear spatial character. There are also exceptionally well-preserved examples of farmsteads dating from the 18th to the 20th century. Those who walk through Chotiněves therefore experience not only individual sights, but a coherent village landscape in which buildings, open spaces and the surrounding landscape are closely interconnected.

Village Heritage Zone and Village Architecture

The Chotiněves Village Heritage Zone was designated on 22 September 1995 and essentially encompasses the entire built-up part of the village. Large masonry farmsteads alternate with wooden buildings featuring arcades and a timber-framed construction. Different building forms jointly shape the streets and the village green. The historic structure is therefore evident in many places and can be experienced section by section while walking through the village.

At the centre stands the Chapel of Saint Procopius on a narrow island of land between the roads. The rectangular, plastered building has a semicircular sanctuary and a triangular gable with a small bell turret. Inside, there is a barrel vault with lunettes and rich fresco decoration. The chapel thus combines a prominent position in the village centre with clearly recognisable architectural and artistic details.

Churches, Museum and Traces of the Castle

The Protestant church in Chotiněves also preserves different layers of history. A tower was added to it in 1987; its bell comes from the former church in Habřina. Chotiněves also has a small local history museum. The church and museum complement the farmsteads and chapel with further insights into the local history.

Part of the rubble-stone foundation and deep cellars of the Berka von Dubá castle survive at house numbers 45–48. These remains add to the historical points of reference in today’s village landscape. Together with the farmsteads, churches, museum and village green, they form a sequence of different points of interest where the history of Chotiněves unfolds as you walk.

On Foot to the Hořidla Lookout Tower

To transition from the history of the village to the landscape, the route leads to the Hořidla Lookout Tower. It stands on the 371-metre-high hill of the same name southwest of Chotiněves. The lookout tower is accessible exclusively on foot via field and forest paths, including from Chotiněves or Jištěrpy, as well as from the Třebutičky–Encovany road via a turn-off to the left by the wayside cross. The different starting points make it possible to plan the trip as a walk along field and forest paths.

The Hořidla Lookout Tower is freely accessible year-round. During a stay in Chotiněves, this allows you to explore the village’s history and the landscape in two clearly distinct parts: first the village architecture, followed by the route to a viewpoint on Hořidla. The combination brings together architectural observation and outdoor activity without conflating the character of the two destinations.

Further Destinations

Other destinations in this selection are Lovosice, Bechlín, Přestavlky U Roudnice Nad Labem, Štětí, Čížkovice, Bříza, Třebívlice and Brzánky.

For the higher-level travel overview: Litoměřice District.