Nový Dům: Baroque Church and Forest Landscape

Nový Dům lies in the picturesque landscape of the Křivoklátsko Protected Landscape Area. In Nový Dům, a close connection with nature, a distinctive Baroque church, and a history stretching back to the Middle Ages come together. There are also opportunities for walks in the surrounding forests and educational trails with clearly defined themes. If you choose a destination for its cultural and forest themes, Nový Dům offers a variety of points of interest.

Church of St. Mary Magdalene and Village History

The Church of St. Mary Magdalene and its cemetery stand on a prominent hill at the northeastern edge of the village, beside a small pond. Its elevated position and location on the edge of the village shape the description of this Baroque building. For those choosing a destination of cultural and historical interest, the church is a specific point of reference in Nový Dům.

The protected complex includes not only the church, but also an enclosing wall with a gate and the designated plots of the site. Together, these features define the protected area and make it understandable as an ensemble: the building, its enclosure, and the associated plots are considered together.

The history of the place goes back further than the Baroque church. In the 14th century, the small monastery of Doupno, with a wooden chapel dedicated to St. Mary Magdalene, stood in the area of Nový Dům. In the 16th century, an aurochs enclosure and a building for the keeper were established there. They laid the foundations for the later village and its name. The site’s historical themes therefore include both a medieval religious site and the origins of the settlement.

Another historical point of interest is the Baroque statue of St. John of Nepomuk. It was erected in 1723 at the site of an expensive hunting event held in 1721 for Empress Elisabeth Christine. The statue stands in the forest in the Alžbětin forest district, about 1.8 km east of the village of Nový Dům and approximately 600 m south of the road from Nový Dům to Lány. Its location is where forest paths intersect in the middle of a large, artificially created circular grassy clearing.

Forest Landscape and Themed Trails

The Křivoklátsko Protected Landscape Area forms the wider landscape setting for Nový Dům. There are many opportunities for walks in the surrounding forests. Nature experiences thus complement the site’s cultural and historical attractions, without requiring you to limit your choice to a single theme.

The Z dýmu a jehličí educational trail is 13.5 km long and has nine stops. Its themes include timber transport, forest railways in the Křivoklátsko region and elsewhere in Czechia, and charcoal production. The stops give the trail a thematic framework that brings together forest history and traditional wood processing. As trail conditions can change, check the current state of the educational trail before visiting.

The locations of other routes are also described differently: cycle route 0047 runs along the southwestern edge, while the Vůně dýmu a jehličí educational trail runs along the northeastern edge of the administrative area of Nový Dům. Thus, a cycling route and an educational trail are associated with different sides of the area.

Discover more destinations: Svojetín, Pustověty, Zbečno, Panoší Újezd, Ruda U Nového Strašecí, Šípy, Krivoklat, Sýkořice.

For the broader travel overview: Rakovník District.