Stonařov: Churches, Calvary and a Meteorite Fall

Stonařov features sacred buildings from different periods, a Way of the Cross on a hill northeast of the town and the story of a meteorite fall in 1808. A described circular route adds a longer walking option to these local highlights.

Stonařov at a glance

• The St. Wenceslas Church complex stands in the center; the church dates from the 13th century.
• The charnel house is a late Romanesque ossuary chapel near the church, dedicated to the Holy Trinity.
• The stone wayside shrine, Boží muka, stands beside house No. 3 and was erected in 1647.
• The chapel on Kalvárie, with its Way of the Cross, stands on a hill northeast of Stonařov.
• The Muzeum meteoritů Stonařov is dedicated to the meteorite fall of May 22, 1808.
• A 2021 route description lists the Naučná stezka Údolím Jihlávky na Aleje educational trail as a 10 km circular route rated easy.

Sacred architecture in the center

The St. Wenceslas Church complex stands in the center of Stonařov. The church dates from the 13th century and is a plastered, single-nave masonry building with a rectangular floor plan. Its architectural form is easy to understand even without specialist knowledge: the single nave, solid construction and rectangular floor plan give the church a clear architectural profile.

Near the church is the charnel house, a late Romanesque ossuary chapel dedicated to the Holy Trinity and resembling a rotunda. Its circular nave is made of local stone; a later, pentagonal presbytery adjoins it. Two different floor plans therefore sit side by side: the church’s rectangular plan and the charnel house’s circular and pentagonal layout. Anyone interested in architectural history can compare these forms without needing a lengthy art-historical introduction.

The stone wayside shrine, Boží muka, beside house No. 3 in Stonařov is a smaller, independent form of religious commemoration. It was erected in 1647 at the expense of Mathias Eysenbart. The four-sided shrine has a deep niche with a pointed-arch vault. Unlike the church and charnel house, its appeal lies in its scale and detail: a single column, a striking niche and a precisely dated year.

Kalvárie and the Way of the Cross

Northeast of Stonařov, the chapel on Kalvárie stands on a hill with the Way of the Cross. The route to it is also part of the description: the access path lies on the southeast side of the site. The older path is complemented by stone Stations of the Cross. This means that both the chapel and the design of its approach are of interest to travelers drawn to sacred sites and their architectural details.

The hilltop location differs markedly from the centrally located church complex. Stonařov thus brings together different scales: the buildings in town, the charnel house near the church and the chapel with its stations on the hill. This is a helpful point of reference when deciding whether to focus your visit more on architecture or on the relationship between the building and the Way of the Cross.

Meteorite fall and circular route

The small Muzeum meteoritů Stonařov is dedicated to the meteorite fall over Stonařov and its surroundings on May 22, 1808. The precise date gives this natural-history subject its own historical context and sets it apart from the sacred buildings. The town’s character thus encompasses not only religious architecture but also the memory of an extraordinary event in the sky.

For a longer walk, a route description published in 2021 lists the Naučná stezka Údolím Jihlávky na Aleje educational trail. It starts in the center of Stonařov and ends there again as a circular route. The route is listed as 10 km long and rated easy; nine stops have information boards in Czech and German. This route offers a different way to plan your visit than exploring individual buildings. If you plan to walk it, check the signage and trail conditions beforehand.

Compare your search for a hotel in Stonařov with your own daily plans, without making assumptions about specific accommodation features.

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FAQ / Frequently asked questions about Stonařov

What is the route of the educational trail through Stonařov?

The 2021 route description lists a circular route that starts in the center and returns there. It is 10 km long, rated easy and has nine stops with information boards in Czech and German. Check the signage and trail conditions before setting out.

Go to the main travel overview: Okres Jihlava.