Bílovice

Bílovice: History, Art and Trails

Above the Romže River, a prehistoric fortified settlement called Hrad u Bílovic lies on a distinctive, oval-shaped promontory.

A Fortified Past Above the Romže

Two ramparts and ditches have been preserved. Ramparts are raised embankments, while ditches are sunken lines in the terrain.

Bílovice was settled by the 13th century at the latest and became an episcopal fief. This classification adds a medieval phase to the prehistoric history and makes clear that the village is interesting not only for individual structures, but also for its long development.

Church, Château and Art in the Village

In the centre of Bílovice stands the Roman Catholic Church of St John the Baptist. It was built approximately in the second half of the 17th century on the site of a Gothic place of worship mentioned in 1366. Also in the centre, at the main crossroads, there is a sculpture group depicting Saints John of Nepomuk, Vendelín and Antonín. North of Bílovice, a wayside cross on the road to Topolná commemorates another point in the surrounding area. The church and sculpture group are in the centre, while the wayside cross is north of the village on the road to Topolná.

Another cultural highlight is the small Baroque château of Zámek Bílovice. A continuous fresco cycle by J. Kohler, meaning a series of interconnected wall paintings, can be found in the Bílovice cemetery. The village is also connected with art history: the painter Josef Mánes stayed in Bílovice from 1854 to 1856 and created the painting Verunka Čudová there. The range therefore extends from sacred art and architecture to a specific episode in the life of a painter.

The first volunteer fire brigade in Moravia was also founded in Bílovice. Thus, the history of the village includes not only archaeological, sacred and artistic evidence, but also the history of volunteer firefighting.

Cycling Routes and the “Along the Border of Nine Cadastres” Educational Trail

Bílovice’s cycling routes run along farm tracks, are signposted and connected to the main cycling routes. For planning an active day, this clearly describes the type of route: you do not ride exclusively on roads within the village, but use a marked network of routes across the open countryside.

The “Along the Border of Nine Cadastres” educational trail offers an alternative option. It is 9 km long, marked with green hiking trail signs and runs through predominantly flat, easy terrain. Its green hiking trail markings clearly distinguish it from the signposted cycling routes along farm tracks. Along the educational trail, there are more than ten information boards as well as rest areas with seating.

Other Places to Consider

If you would like to compare other places for your travel plans in addition to Bílovice, Mistřice, Suchá Loz, Zlámanec, Jankovice, Staré Hutě, Popovice, Vážany U Uherského Hradiště and Pašovice are available for further orientation.

For the broader travel overview: Uherské Hradiště District.