Heřmanice: Church, Art and Dam

Heřmanice lies south of the Železné hory. When planning a stay, different points of interest include the Church of St. Bartholomew in the western part of the village, a cycling route that passes through Heřmanice, and a walk to nearby Pařížov Dam. This lets you take the village’s history, sacred art and outdoor activities into account when planning your trip.

Church of St. Bartholomew: Building History and Art

The Church of St. Bartholomew stands in the cemetery in the western part of Heřmanice. It was first mentioned in 1352; originally Gothic, it was rebuilt in the Baroque style in the 17th century. It was declared a cultural monument on 24 November 1995. It is a branch church of the Roman Catholic parish of Vilémov u Golčova Jeníkova. Gothic and Baroque refer to different stylistic periods, brought together here by the original Gothic character and the later reconstruction.

Inside the church is a wooden panel featuring a Pietà by Jiří Zerzán of Vilémov, dating from 1660. The panel measures 103 × 172 cm and was overpainted in 1950. Above and below the gallery are also the large-format paintings “The Blessing of the Loaves” and “The Expulsion of the Money Changers from the Temple,” both in their original Baroque carved frames from the first half of the 18th century. The dates refer to different details of the works: 1660 to the panel, and the first half of the 18th century to the frames. This distinguishes the date of the individual panel from those of the two large-format paintings.

Historical Connections of the Village

An early point of reference is the year 1281. At that time, the brothers Jindřich, Smil and Rajmund of Lichtenburg sold the villages of Heřmanice and Malejovice, as well as the Kozojedy forest on both banks of the Dúbravice (Doubrava), to the monastery of Vilémov. The sale also included the right of patronage over the Chapel of St. Benedict in Heřmanice. The transaction thus linked villages and woodland with a right of ecclesiastical patronage. The distinction in dates is important: the reference to 1281 concerns the Chapel of St. Benedict, whereas the first mention in 1352 concerns the Church of St. Bartholomew.

The parish associated with the Chapel of St. Benedict also generated income. In addition, the lords of Heřmanice claimed part of the village in the Middle Ages. These details add aspects of the parish and historical claims to village property to the church’s history.

Walks and Cycling Route

Nearby Pařížov Dam marks a later period in the area’s history. Italian builders constructed it on the Doubrava in 1911–1913. Its masonry dam is 21 metres high and 142 metres long. In contrast with the medieval church history, this construction period represents a much later historical focus. You can walk from Heřmanice to the dam; check the actual path conditions locally.

The 2026 regional route listing shows cycling route 5127 Radostín–Golčův Jeníkov passing through Heřmanice. This gives you different types of activities to consider when planning: a possible walk with the dam as a destination and a named cycling route through the village. If you plan to include the route in your cycling trip, check for current route information beforehand.

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