Heřmanice

Heřmanice lies south of the Železné hory and combines landscape, church art and historical traces within a small area. This makes it a destination that is particularly rewarding if you would like to combine experiences in nature with cultural discoveries. A cycling route passes through the village, and from Heřmanice it is possible to walk to the nearby Pařížov Dam.

St. Bartholomew’s: History in a Specific Place

In the western part of Heřmanice, St. Bartholomew’s Church stands in the middle of the cemetery. It was first mentioned in 1352, was originally Gothic and was remodelled in the Baroque style in the 17th century. Today, it is a branch church of the Roman Catholic parish of Vilémov u Golčova Jeníkova. On 24 November 1995, the church was declared a cultural monument. The interior also contains unusually concrete evidence of its history. The church houses a wooden panel with a Pietà by Jiří Zerzán of Vilémov dating from 1660. The work measures 103 × 172 cm and was overpainted in 1950. Above and below the gallery, there are also the large-format paintings “Blessing of the Breads” and “Expulsion of the Money Changers from the Temple”. Both are set in original Baroque carved frames from the first half of the 18th century. In this way, the development of the church can be traced not only through dates, but also through preserved works of art and details of its furnishings. The history of Heřmanice goes back even further. In 1281, the brothers Jindřich, Smil and Rajmund of Lichtenburg sold the villages of Heřmanice and Malejovice, as well as the Kozojedy forest on both banks of the Dúbravice (Doubrava), to Vilémov Monastery. This estate also included the right of patronage over the St. Benedict Chapel in Heřmanice. The monastery administration also received income from the parish at the St. Benedict Chapel. At the same time, the lords of Heřmanice claimed part of the village. These recorded property and ruling relationships give the village a historical background that extends beyond the individual church.

Cycling Route and Pařížov Dam

Heřmanice lies on Cycling Route 5127 Radostín–Golčův Jeníkov. For an excursion on foot, the nearby Pařížov Dam is another possible destination. It is possible to walk there from Heřmanice. The dam was built on the Doubrava by Italian master builders between 1911 and 1913. Its masonry dam wall is 21 metres high and 142 metres long. This scale in particular makes Pařížov an illustrative excursion destination: the local history of Heřmanice, the church art and the technical structure on the Doubrava offer different focal points for the same stay. You can therefore choose between a cultural and historical visit, a cycling tour and a walk to the dam without changing Heřmanice as your starting point. If you would like to compare other places in the Czech Republic with Heřmanice, you can find Česká Bělá, Svetlá Nad Sázavou, Vilémovice, Kamenná Lhota, Prosíčka, Květinov, Uhelná Příbram and Služátky.

For the higher-level travel overview: Havlíčkův Brod District.