Radonice nad Ohří – Church and Local History

In the historic centre of Radonice nad Ohří, the Church of the Elevation of the Holy Cross stands on a slight rise above the Ohře, on the site of a medieval church. Its architecture, the cemetery and historic traces in the town give a visit here a clear cultural focus.

Church of the Elevation of the Holy Cross

The church was built from 1905 to 1907 to a design by František David, an architect and master builder from Louny. The free-standing, single-nave masonry building combines pseudo-Gothic style with Neo-Romanesque elements and is considered a valuable example of early 20th-century Neo-Gothic religious architecture. This protected cultural monument thus combines a comparatively recent construction date with a site where a medieval church once stood.

The enclosure is also part of the architectural impression: the church grounds are surrounded by an unplastered rubble-stone wall topped with stone slabs. On its western side is a double-leaf wrought-iron gate between two stone pillars. A straight staircase with a low stone balustrade leads to this western gate.

The interior furnishings have been preserved almost unchanged. The painted decoration is covered with vegetal and figurative motifs, alongside the original furnishings. In 2002, the church and cemetery complex was handed over to the Czechoslovak Hussite Church for use and serves for regular services and gatherings. If you would like to visit the interior, check in advance whether a visit is possible.

Cemetery and Historic Traces

The cemetery by the church contains numerous old Czech gravestones, including those of clergy. Another monument stands outside the enclosed church grounds: the Baroque statue of Saint Linhart (Leonard) is located at the north-western foot of the church hill, below the stone cemetery wall. It is dated to the first half of the 18th century. The church, gravestones and statue reveal different historical layers of the place: religious architecture, cemetery culture and Baroque sculpture.

Radonice, on the right bank of the Ohře, is first documented in 1145 as a possession of Strahov Premonstratensian Monastery. The rectory north of the church also has its own historical layer: this late Baroque building, designed in the style of a château, has stood there since 1781 and has not been in use since 1962. From 1843 to 1847, Boleslav Jablonský, whose birth name was Karel Eugen Tupý, served in Radonice as a chaplain and was known in his time as a patriotic poet.

Plan Your Cycling Route and Journey

Marked cycle route No. 202 passes through Radonice and follows the route Peruc–Stradonice–Radonice nad Ohří–Slavětín–Louny. If you use the route for navigation, check the current signage before setting out. This keeps your plans aligned with the designated route.

A railway stop on line 114 between Lovosice and Postoloprty is located less than one kilometre south of the town centre. If travelling by train, please check the timetables in advance and confirm whether the stop is served on your planned travel date. The location of the stop does not replace checking a specific connection.

Choose Accommodation for Your Stay

If your main aim is to explore the church, cemetery and local history, you can pay close attention to the exact location listed for accommodation when searching.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Lipenec, Žiželice, Lubenec, Zbrašín, Opočno, Nové Sedlo U Žatce, Bitozeves and Koštice.

Back to the main travel overview: Okres Louny.