Hornice: Chapel, Fortress and Ponds

Hornice brings together sacred architecture, archaeological traces and remains of a fortress complex, along with named ponds and a watercourse. During a stay, visitors can discover several sides of the place: its architectural history, early settlement and landscape. Its historical periods range from a hilltop settlement dated to the 10th century to the completion of a chapel in the early 20th century. When planning a visit to the fortress complex, also consider the access route from the southeastern edge of the village.

Chapel and Remembrance

The Chapel of St. John of Nepomuk is built of brick. Its floor plan is rectangular, with a three-sided termination. This end alters the outline of the otherwise rectangular ground plan and is a distinctive feature of the chapel’s exterior design. The chapel was completed in 1920–1921. A marble commemorative plaque dating from 1922 is set into the building; it bears the names of victims of the First World War. The two dates refer to different things: 1920–1921 marks the completion of the chapel, while 1922 is the year of the plaque.

Hilltop Settlement and Fortress Complex

A fortified hilltop settlement is located on Turecký kopec, in the cadastral area of Hornice; its settlement is dated to the 10th century. The name links two aspects of the site: its position on a hill and its fortified character. The Tvrz Hornice fortress complex dates to a later period. Ceramic finds date its active existence from the transition between the 13th and 14th centuries to the middle of the 15th century. This distinction is important for understanding the chronology: the 10th century refers to the hilltop settlement, while the later dates refer to the fortress complex. A ditch and rampart remain on its eastern access side. The former Hornice castle grounds were established in the 14th century beside the present-day Obecní rybník.

Ponds, Watercourse and Local Landmarks

Hornický rybník lies on the eastern edge of Hornice. The Bihanka enters the cadastral area west of the municipality, after flowing through the Asuán pond. These are two distinct bodies of water: the pond on the eastern edge of the village and the Bihanka’s entry into the cadastral area from the west. The Hornice niche chapel is a small sacred building with a neoclassical appearance. It stands at the Hornice–Velký Újezd–Kojatice crossroads. A roadside shrine on the road to Kojatice is another local landmark.

Access and Event

Access to the fortress complex is from the southeastern edge of the village, along a path past the houses to the Bobák pond and across its dam. Check local conditions before your visit. According to a report from 2025, the annual draining of the Obecní rybník attracts more than 1,000 people from the surrounding area each year. If you would like to plan your trip around the pond draining, check the event date in advance. The pond names help distinguish the locations: the draining takes place at Obecní rybník, while Hornický rybník lies on the eastern edge of Hornice.

Discover more destinations: Radkovice U Budče, Bačkovice, Střítež, Mladoňovice, Chlístov, Rácovice, Bochovice, Zahrádka.

For the broader travel overview: Okres Třebíč.