Loděnice: Churches, Chapel and Cycling Route
Accommodation in Loděnice
Loděnice can be explored when planning a stay through two different interests: the town’s architectural history and a longer cycling route that starts here. The Church of St. Margaret, the Chapel of St. John of Nepomuk and a statue of the same saint each offer a distinct perspective. For cycling, the 84-kilometre Živé pomezí Krumlovsko–Jevišovicko route takes centre stage. Before looking for a hotel, you can decide whether you would like to get to know Loděnice mainly through its buildings or as a starting point for a tour.
The architectural history of the Church of St. Margaret
The Church of St. Margaret is a Gothic brick building. It was constructed from the 1430s onwards, replacing an earlier fortified church dating from 1210 to 1240. The Gothic building also developed in several stages: the choir was built first, followed later by the three-aisled nave. The main nave was vaulted around 1504. These dates distinguish the earlier church from the later Gothic building; within the more recent architectural history, the choir, nave and vaulting mark further stages. Architecture enthusiasts will therefore find more than a single date here: they can trace the church’s development through a sequence of events.
The chapel and depictions of St. John of Nepomuk
The Chapel of St. John of Nepomuk stands on the village square, opposite house No. 5. Its almost square structure is made of stone and brick. A gabled roof covered with slate tiles and a tower topped with an onion dome define its exterior; the entrance portal bears the date 1841. Inside are a stone altar, a polychrome statue of St. John of Nepomuk and wall paintings. There are also medallions depicting the Virgin Mary with the Christ Child and St. Anne. The description thus covers both the chapel’s exterior form and details of its interior.
Another depiction of St. John of Nepomuk has its own local history in Loděnice: the statue originally stood on a bridge and is now located on a stone fountain. The chapel and statue are two distinct features. The chapel is notable for its architecture, portal and interior; the statue’s history also includes its change of location.
Stone relief and cycling route
The atonement stone, also known as a reconciliation stone, in Loděnice is a sandstone block with a roughly carved bas-relief in the form of a cross with one arm. The compact stone block bears a clearly defined relief. It thus provides another distinct stone feature alongside the figurative depictions of St. John of Nepomuk.
The Živé pomezí Krumlovsko–Jevišovicko cycling route starts in Loděnice and ends in Bítov. It is 84 kilometres long and is not a circular route. When planning your ride, it is therefore important to treat it as a route with different starting and finishing points, not as a return trip to the starting point. The route runs along a green corridor and largely avoids busy roads; local conditions may change, so check route information before setting off.
The landscape is also part of the route’s character: it passes through hilly terrain, with occasional unexpected views over the open countryside. Most of the route crosses agricultural land, with patches of woodland appearing along the way. Loděnice is also connected with the Damnice–Pravlov section of the Znojemská vinařská stezka (Znojmo Wine Trail). If you include this connection in your plans, check the exact local regulations. The cycling route and the named section thus offer different ways to shape your stay, around either a longer ride or the specified wine trail section.
For the broader travel overview: Brno-Country District.
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