Bohdašín: Landscape, Chapel and Rokole

In the foothills of the Orlické Mountains, Bohdašín offers views of the Elbe lowlands and the Krkonoše Mountains. A chapel in the built-up part of the village, historical references to the estate and mining, and pilgrimage sites and paths in Rokole give visitors several concrete cultural points of interest alongside the landscape.

Landscape and Chapel in the Village

The chapel, dated 1826, stands at a crossroads in the built-up part of the village, opposite house No. 47. Its prism-shaped bell tower is one of its distinctive architectural features. The year it was built, its location and the shape of its tower describe different aspects of the same structure: its historical period, its place in the streetscape and its design. On the outskirts, on the road to Slavoňov, there is also a sandstone Calvary group. Check its condition in person.

The Estate, Mining and Frymburk Castle

Bohdašín formerly belonged to the Frymburk estate. Around 1446, iron ore was mined and hammer mills were built in the area around Bohdašín and Bydlo. These references point to different historical layers: the former estate affiliation and the mining industry with its hammer mills. Nearby Frymburk Castle is also part of the historical context; it was in use from the 14th to the 17th century. Its ruins lie near Nový Hrádek on a high rocky promontory encircled by the Olešenka; the castle complex includes an 18.5-metre-wide keep on the promontory. A keep is a tower-like part of a castle complex; the 18.5-metre measurement refers to this structure, not to the castle as a whole.

Pilgrimage Sites in Rokole

Rokole is a Marian pilgrimage site that grew up at the place where the Virgin Mary appeared. The church Rokolský kostel is dedicated to the Virgin Mary of Rokole: it is Pseudo-Gothic, was built in 1930 and consecrated on 19 August 1945. The wooden Loreta represents a different form of religious architecture: it consists of a passageway open at the front, hung with images of the Seven Sorrows of Mary.

The Stations of the Cross add another architectural feature. They were built in 1874 in the forest opposite Rokole; cast-iron reliefs are set on stone pillars. The Schönstatt Chapel in Rokole was consecrated on 19 July 1997 and is considered the first original Schönstatt shrine in Bohemia.

Paths and Directions

In Rokole, the Cesta manželů runs alongside ponds; 15 panels featuring texts and sculptures shape its route. A 2024 hiking report also describes a marked hiking connection from Rokole to Bohdašín: it first follows a green-marked trail, then a blue-marked one. Check the trail markings again on site. The two route descriptions emphasize different things: the Cesta focuses on ponds, panels and sculptures, while the route to Bohdašín focuses on the trail’s course and sequence of colours.

Getting There

The bus stop is called “Bohdašín, V Propasti”; check current transport information before travelling.

Discover more destinations: České Meziříčí, Ohnišov, Rohenice, Sněžné, Svídnice U Kostelce Nad Orlicí, Černíkovice, Rampuse, Deschney

For the wider travel overview: Okres Rychnov Nad Kněžnou.