Bačkovice: Local History and the Želetavka Valley

For trip planning, Bačkovice offers two specific perspectives: the village’s history and the route through the Želetavka Valley. The Chapel of Saints Cyril and Methodius is a defining feature of the village, while route information also takes you through Bačkovice and on into the surrounding area. You can get to know the village through its cultural history or as part of a route through the valley.

Cultural History in Bačkovice

The Chapel of Saints Cyril and Methodius is an important historic monument and the defining landmark of the village of Bačkovice. For travelers interested in local history, it is a key cultural point of reference. Its significance is evident both in its historical context and in its role as the village’s landmark.

The Boží muka wayside shrine stands in fields about one kilometer south of Bačkovice, at the Police–Dešná crossroads. It is listed as an immovable cultural monument in the planning area. The approximate distance and named crossroads provide a sense of location; its setting in the fields also distinguishes it from the landmark in the village.

Bačkovice Fortress is also part of the village’s history: it was destroyed in 1468 during the Bohemian–Hungarian War. Its probable location is on the left bank of the Želetavka, right by the bridge at the northern end of the village. This location has not yet been confirmed archaeologically. When considering the fortress, it is therefore important to distinguish between the dated historical event and the location, which has only been determined with some probability.

Landscape and Regional Context

The planning area’s landscape includes forests, waterways, ponds, and valley floodplains. One specific feature of the village is the forest that reaches the houses of Bačkovice along one side of the Želetavka Valley. Alongside the cultural points of interest, the valley and its landscape features are therefore central to understanding the region.

The regional biocenter RBC 544 Šimkův mlýn extends into the cadastral area of Bačkovice. Šimkův mlýn is also one of the places on the route through the Želetavka Valley. You will therefore encounter the name both in the regional ecological context and when navigating along the route.

Routes through the Želetavka Valley

One route through the Želetavka Valley runs from Jemnice via Radotice, Bačkovice, and Šimkův mlýn to Lubnice, Police, and Jiratice, before returning to Jemnice. This sequence of places makes Bačkovice part of a loop that includes several villages in the valley and ends back in Jemnice.

In addition, marked cycle route 26 runs from Jemnice through the Želetavka Valley to Bačkovice. The route information addresses different planning needs: the valley route describes a loop passing through several places, while cycle route 26 describes the marked route to Bačkovice. Before setting out, check the signage and trail conditions locally.

Discover more destinations: Pucov, Častohostice, Kojatín, Petrůvky, Rácovice, Rudíkov, Kamenná, Myslibořice

For the overview of the wider area: Třebíč District.