PLACES OF PILGRIMAGE IN THE AREA
The churches and chapels in the Orlické Mountains are living reminders of the past. They bear traces of faith, but also of dramatic events that have shaped the face of this region. Many of them were built during the Baroque period, some fell into oblivion, and today they are being revived thanks to the dedication of individuals and joint efforts to preserve them.
For pilgrims and visitors alike, these places are a quiet refuge and a gateway to learning about the history of the Czechia-Poland border region. They offer a space to pause, reflect, and discover the cultural wealth that the Orlické Mountains still preserve today.
Each temple has its own story – from magnificent altars to the modest remains of once-lively villages. It is precisely this diversity that gives them their charm and makes them worth stopping by.
Kostel sv. Jana Nepomuckého
When leaving Bartošovice in the direction of Neratov, you cannot miss the dilapidated church on the right-hand side, seemingly standing in the middle of nowhere. It is the Baroque Church of St. John of Nepomuk, which was built between 1708 and 1712. Its builder, Carl Antonio Reina, later participated in the construction of the church in Neratov. The church originated as a cemetery chapel, and in 1770 it was expanded and a tower was added. The furnishings date from the 18th and 19th centuries. Since the 20th century, when the church was left to its fate, its interior has been gradually looted and ravaged. Only the pews and slight remains of the furnishings in the choir loft have survived to this day.
The church is a single-nave structure, ending with a presbytery on the east side and a tower without a vestibule on the west side. The nave of the church has a rectangular floor plan and is covered by a gabled roof. The main tower and a smaller bell tower made of a wooden structure in the shape of a dome with an open lantern protrude from the axis of the nave.
Vrchní Orlice
The Church of St. John of Nepomuk, a smithy (now used as a recreational facility), farm buildings, and the ruins of a mill. These structures are the only reminders of the vanished village of Vrchní Orlice.
The first mention of the village dates back to 1567. It gained the status of an independent municipality in 1603. It was located on both banks of the Hadinský Creek, a right tributary of the Divoká Orlice River. Its inhabitants were mainly weavers, farmers, and craftsmen. In addition to a church, the village center also had a school, an inn, a smithy, a mill, and a farm.
As elsewhere in the borderlands, the demise of this prosperous village was caused by the expulsion of the original population.
Church restoration
In the summer of 2011, repairs began on the roof. This is crucial for saving the entire building, as it will prevent water and snow from leaking in, which would cause further degradation of the structure. In 2012, the church became a cultural monument and work on its repair continues.
Concerts and exhibitions are held here, and after the renovation is complete, it should host a permanent exhibition on the Czechia-Polish border between the world wars and on life in this region.
The restoration of the church is being carried out with the participation of Římskokatolická farnost Neratov, Sdružení Neratov, z. s., Místní akční skupina – Sdružení SPLAV, Ministerstvo zemědělství, Česko-německý fond budoucnosti, Státní zemědělský intervenční fond, the original German inhabitants under the patronage of Mr. Hartmut Lux, the Berlin group Amphion Bläseroktett, and other small donors. The repairs and clearing of the church were also assisted by Czech and German students under the patronage of Gymnázia J.V.Jirsíka from Českých Budějovic and members of the Brontosaurus movement.
Kostel sv. Jana Křtitele v Orlickém Záhoří
The current Baroque church was built between 1754 and 1763 on the site of a former wooden church. The church has a single nave, and a prismatic tower with a shingle roof adjoins the rectangular presbytery. The location of the tower on the east side is quite unusual, so in a sense, this church can be considered a rarity or a unique feature.
The church is furnished in the Baroque-Classicist style, dating from around 1770. The main altar is supported by two angels, with statues of St. John of Nepomuk, Sigismund, Wenceslas, and Adalbert on either side. Above the tabernacle, we can see a small painting of the Madonna and Child. There are two more pseudo-Romanesque altars on the sides of the nave.
The church tower was inaccessible for a long time. In 2018, it underwent reconstruction as part of the project Historické věže Kladského pomezí. The newly accessible tower spaces now offer both a view of the surrounding area and an exhibition of paintings depicting the region Kladského pomezí. Inside the church itself, there are models of all four locations included in the project (Orlické Záhoří, Neratov, and Bystřice Kladská) with an interactive tour of each location.
Kostel sv. Máří Magdaleny v Bartošovicích v Orlických horách
A wooden church, built in 1548, originally stood on the site of today's church. It was "burned to the ground," according to a report by Matěj ze Šonova, chamberlain of the Prague Land Registry Office. In 1673, a stone church was built on the same site. Kostel sv. Máří Magdaleny dates from 1731–1746.
The church's interior decoration dates back to 1740 and consists of an altar painting of the patron saint, statues of St. Vitus and St. Jerome, side altars, and a pulpit. The prismatic cemetery gate with a shingle-covered dome located in front of the church dates back to the same year. The late Baroque stone Calvary dates back to 1793.
The turbulent history, such as the expulsion of the original German inhabitants, has left its mark not only on the entire village of Bartošovice, but also on the church itself. This is why the project Společně po nové cestě (Together on a New Path) was created, which aims to restore both the church in Bartošovice and the one in Vrchní Orlice.