Údlice: Church Architecture and Jewish History

For travel planning, Údlice can be viewed through different historical and natural-history time horizons. The topics range from a river course millions of years ago to the first written mention of the church in 1247. They also include the Romanesque apse of the Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (Povýšení sv. Kříže), several traces of Jewish history, and a seasonal outdoor swimming complex. If you are looking for a hotel in Údlice, you can choose the focus of your stay based on whether you are more interested in architecture, local history, or the geological past.

Geological Time and Church History

Two to 65 million years ago, a river flowed through the site of present-day Údlice and emptied into the so-called Žatec Lake. The site is known for fossilized trunks, leaves, and roots, as well as tree blossoms and fruits. This vast span of time reaches far back before the church’s first written mention. The fossilized plant remains thus offer a different perspective on Údlice from its later buildings and historical records.

The Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (Povýšení sv. Kříže) is one of the most significant religious buildings in the Ústecký kraj region. Its Romanesque altar niche, or apse, is dated to a construction period before 1250. This should be distinguished from the church’s first written mention, which dates to 1247: the dates refer to different things. The former fortifications are also part of the history of the church site. The church and the cemetery that once stood beside it were fortified by a moat.

Jewish History and Places of Remembrance

By the end of the 15th century, Údlice already had a Jewish house of prayer with an attached religious school. The so-called Old Jewish Cemetery may date back to the 16th century; its oldest tombstones are from the 17th and 18th centuries. Údlice was one of the main centers of Jewish settlement in the Chomutov region. The possible early date of the cemetery and the period of the oldest tombstones provide two distinct points of reference.

A second, so-called New Jewish Cemetery was established in 1864 near the road to Jirkov. In the early 1960s, a memorial to the victims of the death march who died in Údlice in 1945 was erected at this cemetery. The early history of the community, the establishment of the second cemetery, and the later commemoration can thus be viewed as different periods in the history of the town.

Another historical landmark is Údlice Castle, adjoining a farmyard and a small park.

Getting There and Seasonal Information

Regional bus line 522569 is listed as serving the Chomutov–Údlice–Velemyšleves route. Check the timetable before traveling so you can plan your specific connection.

A seasonal outdoor swimming complex is located at Lázeňská 100. Bear in mind that it operates seasonally and check current opening information before visiting.

Discover more destinations: Březno and Chomutova, Kovářská, České Hamry, Spořice, Hrušovany U Chomutova, Vrskmaň, Kalek, Svahová.

For the broader travel overview: Okres Chomutov.