Lechotice – Village Square, Observation Tower and Rural Traditions

Lechotice lies at the southern foot of the Hostýnské vrchy hills and below the wooded slopes of the Zlínská vrchovina highlands. The village combines a clearly recognizable rural landscape with village history, living traditions and excursion destinations that can be explored at different paces. For families who, when choosing accommodation, are looking not only for a place to stay but also for the character of the destination, Lechotice offers above all insights into life in an East Moravian community and opportunities for specific experiences.

Landscape and excursions around Lechotice

One way to get to know the surrounding area on foot is the “From Lechotice to the Na Strážné Observation Tower” route. It offers a 3.6 km round trip from Lechotice to the Na Strážné observation tower. Alongside a visit to the village, this provides a specific hiking destination.

Behind Lechotice in the direction of Racková, a polder lies on the Žídelná stream and is considered a popular destination for cyclists. There is an opportunity to observe waterfowl and life around the retention basin. The polder complements the observation tower route with a different landscape impression: instead of panoramic views and wooded slopes, the focus here is on the water in the stream and its surroundings.

Lechotice also has an excursion area with a dance floor. Those who would like to get to know a local meeting place offering opportunities for socializing during their stay will find another part of village life here.

Dědina: Village History in One Place

The first written record of the existence of the Lechotice settlement dates back to 1342. The history is particularly vivid on the “Dědina” village square. Of the once-representative farmsteads, only two remain in their original appearance. This makes the square a place where the former architectural character can be understood through individual surviving buildings.

The defining structure of the village square is a picturesque masonry bell tower. In front of it stands a monument erected in 1921 to the soldiers who fell in the First World War. The green area around the bell tower and monument provides seating in peaceful surroundings.

The former village school, built in 1868, is also part of the local history. After the new school was built in 1912, the former school building became a smithy and the family home of František Karlík. Its changing use therefore tells not only of a historic building but also of its later role within the village.

Traditions and Events

There is a special cultural connection to Staré hanácké právo. In its traditional form, this custom has been preserved in the East Haná villages of Sazovice, Mysločovice, Lechotice, Racková and Machová. An essential part is a procession through the community, stopping at individual houses and accompanied by a listing of their residents’ transgressions. Those interested in regional customs will encounter here an explicitly community-oriented tradition with a set procedure.

The Bartolomějské hody festival takes place regularly in Lechotice in August. The Tour de Žídelná has a checkpoint in Lechotice.

Other Places to Compare

If you would like to compare other places in the Czech Republic for your travel planning alongside Lechotice, here you will find Zborovice, Ludslavice, Prasklice, Pacetluky, Zahnašovice, Rajnochovice, Přílepy and Jarohněvice.

For the higher-level travel overview: Kroměříž District.