Ždírec: St. Wenceslas and Baroque Saints

In Ždírec, the Church of St. Wenceslas and Baroque saint statues are complemented by a specific point of interest for cycling travelers: two cycle routes meet in the village. The history of the church building spans several centuries, while St. Wenceslas in its present-day Neo-Gothic form dates from the late 19th century. Together with the sculptures, the village offers various points of interest for a culturally focused stay.

St. Wenceslas: Church and Village History

The Church of St. Wenceslas is a prominent feature of the village square and is surrounded by a small park. Its single-nave building ends in a five-sided chancel. A church in Ždírec is documented in writing from the 14th century; St. Wenceslas had already become a parish church before 1367. These early milestones mark the beginning of a long history of the village and its church.

The earlier church burned down completely in 1890. The present Church of St. Wenceslas was built on its site between 1893 and 1898 in the Neo-Gothic style, based on a design by master builder Josef Šupich of Havlíčkův Brod. It has been protected as a cultural monument since May 3, 1958. From the second half of the 16th century until 1622, the church served Protestants; Liebzeit was the last Protestant pastor in the village. The parish house also has a varied history: it was destroyed during the Thirty Years’ War and restored in 1690.

The interior contains an old organ and paintings depicting scenes from the life of St. Wenceslas. The present interior furnishings are more recent. A large wooden cross and four stone grave slabs are preserved from the original furnishings; the cross survived the 1890 fire. A memorial plaque beside it commemorates the Germans murdered at Budínka. If you would like to see the interior, check visiting arrangements before your visit.

Baroque Saint Statues in Ždírec

The Baroque sandstone group of St. John of Nepomuk dates from 1743 and is attributed to Václav Viktor Morávek. The life-size saint is surrounded by several figures: an angel holding a cross stands to the right, while three putti to the left hold a cartouche with a relief of the Madonna. This means the group can be appreciated not only as a depiction of a single saint, but also for its varied motifs and their arrangement.

Another Baroque work is the granite statue of St. Anthony of Padua. The sculptor Václav Morávek of Polná created it in 1753. It stands in the western part of Ždírec at a road junction with turnoffs toward Střítež and Měšín. Unlike the multi-figure sandstone group, this is a single granite statue. The two works thus offer different subjects and materials to discover on a tour of local art history.

Cycle Routes, Location, and Accommodation

Two cycle routes meet in Ždírec, but no marked tourist route passes through the village. When planning, it is helpful to distinguish between these details: the meeting point for cycle routes is a specific reference point for a bike ride, while Ždírec should not be described as a stop on a marked tourist route. The village lies about ten kilometers from Jihlava and 4.5 kilometers from Polná. These approximate distances help you locate Ždírec on the map when choosing a base.

Some listings may be outside the village, and availability can change. When choosing, check the exact location and the relevant offer.

Discover More Destinations

Šimanov, Urbanov, Třešť, Malý Beranov, Brtnice, Hostětice, Vysoké Studnice, Zhoř u Jihlavy.

Back to the main travel overview: Jihlava District.