Kosetice – Churches, Castles and Historical Discoveries

Kosetice combines evidence from different eras with signposted hiking and cycling routes. Historic buildings and Jewish heritage are particularly prominent in the town: the Church of St. John the Baptist dates back to the Middle Ages in its origins, while the cemetery, former synagogue, and two castles reveal different chapters of the town’s history. The range extends from the religious building and castle grounds to the Jewish cemetery and former synagogue. Those who enjoy experiencing historic places in different ways will find several points of interest here: architecture, parkland, and preserved traces of Jewish life each tell their own part of the town’s history.

Churches and castles as historical highlights

The Church of St. John the Baptist has a single nave, a rectangular presbytery, and a prismatic tower. Two Baroque statues of saints complement its architectural features. It therefore offers a tangible introduction to the older history of Košetice, without limiting the development of the town to a single era. Medieval origins, a clearly articulated building structure, and Baroque figures come together here.

The grounds of Starý zámek include a park adjoining the castle and the farmyard on its southern, western, and northern sides. The park consists of three interconnected areas with different characters. Starý zámek itself is classified as a protected cultural monument. Another protected site is the Chapel of the Sorrows of Christ in Košetice. The three connected park areas make the castle grounds a combination of built and outdoor space. The park thus complements the view of the castle and farmyard with a spatially structured setting.

Nový zámek was created in the 1720s by converting an abandoned vicarage. The building is privately owned and is currently not open to the public. This distinction is important for your planning: Nový zámek is part of Košetice’s historical story, but it is not a publicly accessible sightseeing site.

Jewish heritage in a wooded setting

The Jewish cemetery of Košetice is located in a wooded area southeast of Košetice and is freely accessible. Its oldest gravestones date from the early 18th century. The former synagogue of Košetice, house number 76, was built around the first half of the 19th century and is now used as a residential building. Together, the two sites show how historical traces have been preserved in different forms in the townscape of today. The cemetery’s wooded location creates a different spatial setting from the building of the former synagogue in the town. Here, a freely accessible historic site meets a former religious building now used as a residence.

Hiking and cycling around Košetice

At “Kolem dokola Košeticka,” the recommended hiking and cycling routes are signposted. In some places, they run along forest and field tracks as well as woodland paths. The event is a recurring cycling and hiking event in Košetice; the 8th edition took place on 26 August 2023. The bonus stage of the Santiniho stezka also provides a specific route detail: it leads from Červená Řečice over 11 km to the castle in Košetice. The 11 km of the bonus stage provide a clearly defined route framework. By comparison, Kolem dokola Košeticka refers to several signposted hiking and cycling routes with different types of surfaces. Planning therefore focuses both on a specific stage and on a broader range of routes.

More destinations for your travel planning

If you would like to research additional destinations besides Kosetice, here is a compact selection: Hořice U Humpolce, Vitice, Nova Cerekev, Utechovice, Horní Ves, Libkova Voda, Betlem and Křelovice.

For the higher-level travel overview: Pelhřimov District.