Šonov: Churches, Geology and Routes

Šonov combines the history of its religious buildings with geological features and routes. The Chapel of Panny Marie and the Church of St. Markéta represent different periods of construction; Homole and Kamenec draw attention to geological features. There is also a blue hiking trail and a longer cycling circuit. These themes give you several specific ways to plan your stay around architecture, landscape or activity.

Churches and Architectural History

The Chapel of Panny Marie now stands on the site of the former wooden Church of St. John the Evangelist, documented since 1354 and destroyed by fire in 1775. The Neo-Gothic chapel was built on this site in 1877. The year 1354 therefore refers to the documented predecessor church, while 1877 refers to the construction of the present-day chapel.

The exterior of the chapel is accessible daily from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Access to the interior is possible by prior telephone arrangement with the Roman Catholic parish of Broumov. As access arrangements may change, check this information before your trip.

The Church of St. Markéta is an example of High Baroque architecture. It was built between 1727 and 1730; its authorship is indirectly attributed to Kilián Ignác Dientzenhofer. It also has a distinctive location: it stands alone on a hill west of and above Šonov, offering views of Broumov and the surrounding landscape. Its style distinguishes it from the Neo-Gothic Chapel of Panny Marie.

The ground plan of the Church of St. Markéta is also described precisely: it consists of a through-oval with quadrilaterals beveled at the ends. The term describes the combination of an oval passage with beveled quadrilateral ends, adding a specific architectural feature to its classification by construction period and style.

The construction history of the late Baroque rectory in Šonov begins in 1782 and continues to the present day. It adds another building with a long construction history to the religious buildings.

Landscape and Geological Features

The entire Šonov area lies within the Broumovsko Protected Landscape Area. Homole, also known as Šonovská sopka, is in the Javoří Mountains, east of Šonov in the Czech Republic. Homole and Šonovská sopka are two names for the same mountain. At its summit is a ventarole from which warm air emerges, as well as a rocky depression about 4 m deep.

The geologically notable Kamenec site lies about 1.2 km northeast of the center of Šonov. It includes rocks, rock faces and outcrops of andesitoids (melaphyre). The descriptions emphasize different features: Homole is described in terms of its summit features, while Kamenec is noted for its rocks and rock outcrops.

Hiking and Cycling

A blue-marked hiking trail to Homole runs from Hvězda via Křinice and Šonov to Nowa Ruda. Check the trail’s current markings before your trip, as they may change.

The regional route description lists the 46 km cycling circuit “from Šonov through the Javoří Mountains via Głuszyca and Osówka” as moderate to difficult. It is intended for mountain bikes or trekking bikes. The starting point is the crossroads by the municipal office in Šonov. Check the current route information before setting out.

This gives you a choice of two different types of tour: a hiking trail to Homole that continues through Šonov to Nowa Ruda, and a cycling circuit starting in Šonov whose description specifies its length, difficulty and suitable bike types. You can plan accordingly based on how you want to get around.

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To the main travel overview: Náchod District.