Zdislavice: Church, Ossuary and Rural Townscape

Zdislavice is a destination for travellers who want to take a well-preserved rural townscape and tangible evidence of sacred history into account when choosing where to visit. The town lies below Javornická Hůra on a gentle slope divided by a small valley. Its historical features range from a Baroque building on the site of an older church to an ossuary, a sandstone sculpture and a wayside shrine.

Landscape and Townscape

Zdislavice’s preserved rural urban structure is considered part of its cultural heritage. It complements the individual monuments with the broader context of the townscape: here, it is not only an individual building but also the settlement pattern that contributes to the town’s historical character. Together with the gentle slope and small valley, this makes it possible to understand Zdislavice in terms of both its setting and its built environment. This makes a difference when choosing a destination: those interested in rural settlement patterns as well as churches and monuments have another way to explore the town.

Church and Ossuary

The Church of St Peter and St Paul (Kostel sv. Petra a Pavla) is a state-protected cultural monument. The Baroque building was constructed in 1701–1702 on the site of an older church. The church complex also includes an enclosing wall. The monument’s context therefore encompasses both its building history and an element of the surrounding complex. The Zdislavice ossuary stands immediately next to the church; its construction began in 1810. Inside, a small altar stands opposite the entrance. Along the walls are niches containing additional skulls and other parts of human skeletons. The church reflects the building phase of 1701–1702, while the ossuary, whose construction began in 1810, adds a later historical layer. The two buildings stand directly next to each other but differ in their building histories and the features described.

Sculpture and Wayside Shrine

Other sacred monuments include the statue of St John of Nepomuk (sv. Jana Nepomuckého) and the Zdislavice wayside shrine. The statue is a Baroque sandstone sculpture dated 1782. The wayside shrine dates from the 18th or 19th century and has a double cross at its summit. This makes it possible to compare two different forms and periods: the statue is described by its material, style and precise date, while the wayside shrine is characterised by its century range and double cross. Together, they broaden the focus from larger sacred buildings to smaller monuments.

Cycling Route and Trip Planning

There is also a specific connection for those travelling by bicycle: the sequence of towns along cycle route 0004 is Vlašim, Zdislavice, Trhový Štěpánov, Nesměřice and Zruč n. Sáz. Check the signage and route before setting out. This sequence helps place the cycle route within a longer trip plan, while the monuments provide the cultural and historical connection to Zdislavice.

Discover more destinations: Krňany, Kladruby U Vlašimi, Keblov, Sobesovice, Studený, Beneschau, Mrač, Lipiny U Radosovic

For the broader travel overview: Okres Benešov.