Discover Želkovice: Church, Village Green and Lounek

Historic buildings and the long village green are at the heart of Želkovice, while orchards and Lounek add to the picture in the surrounding area. When planning your trip, you can distinguish specific destinations in the village from seasonal landscapes beyond it.

Church of St. Peter and Paul: Rotunda and later nave

The Roman Catholic branch church of St. Peter and Paul stands on a hill above the western edge of Želkovice. Its slightly oval rotunda opens eastwards into a rectangular-ended chancel, which originally had a horseshoe-shaped apse. A Neo-Romanesque nave was added to the rotunda in 1852–1853, based on plans by the engineer Wetzl. The rotunda and nave thus represent different stages in the building’s history: the addition is specifically identified by its date range and designer.

Another detail of the rotunda is a sculpture of a Turk’s head set into its masonry. It is interpreted as a reminder of the Russo-Austrian war against the Turks. The enclosure wall around the church grounds also features a wrought-iron double-leaf gate. The architectural details range from the shape of the building and its later addition to a sculptural work and the enclosure.

Statue of St. Joseph on the village green

The statue of St. Joseph stands at the northern, upper end of the long village green. Both the statue and its pedestal are made of sandstone. It is considered a work of high quality from the late Baroque period; the artist is still unknown. A dedicatory inscription on the statue gives the year 1762. Its material, artistic classification, location on the green and inscription offer different points of reference for viewing the monument, without treating the inscription as a confirmed date for the statue itself.

Together with the church, the statue provides a second historical point of interest in the village. While the details of St. Peter and Paul include the rotunda, chancel, nave and gate, the features of the statue of Joseph are its sandstone, late Baroque design and dedicatory inscription. Those interested in architectural forms and historic sculptures will find several different aspects of Želkovice to explore.

Stavění Máje: an announced event in 2026

The municipality announced the traditional event Stavění Máje for the morning of Saturday, May 2, 2026. The announcement said that men could take part in raising the maypole, while women and girls could help decorate it. This was a specific date in the past, not a future event date. The description on record also makes clear which roles were planned as part of this tradition.

Orchards and Lounek in the surrounding area

The area around Želkovice is home to extensive orchards, mostly apple orchards. In spring, white or pink blossoms can frame views of the surrounding landscape. This is a seasonal impression: the orchards are part of the landscape, while the blossom views are specific to spring.

A broad path leads southeast from the Church of St. Peter and Paul towards Lounek in the surrounding area. The slopes and summit offer views of the surrounding agricultural landscape. The summit is mostly fenced, but can be reached from the east; check access conditions locally before visiting. Spring pheasants’ eye, pasqueflowers and other rare plants grow in the summit’s steppe grassland. Flowering times and visibility vary with the season, so the landscape differs at different times of year from Želkovice’s permanent architectural features.

This creates a clear contrast for planning your trip: the church, gate and statue of Joseph offer specific architectural and historical points of interest, while the orchard blossoms and plants on Lounek depend on the season. If you are looking for a hotel for your trip to Želkovice, these differences can help you decide what to focus on during your stay.

Discover more destinations: Raná U Loun, Laun, Ročov, Kozly, Vroutek, Brody, Hřivice, Libčeves.

For the broader travel overview: Okres Louny.