Křečkov in the Polabí

Křečkov lies approximately 3 km north of Poděbrady. The Sánský Canal runs through the village; it flows into the Mrlina at Budiměřice. The historic chapel stands in the village square, and the war memorial is in the village center among lime trees. The multipurpose water reservoir is used for swimming in summer and ice skating in winter.

Around 1450, Jiří z Kunštátu had a 2¼-mile-long watercourse built to carry water from the Cidlina to the ponds at Poděbrady. The Blato pond, northeast of Poděbrady, was also supplied; it was one of the largest ponds in Bohemia. The watercourse was initially called Lánská struha, and later Sánská strouha or the Sánský Canal. The Sánský Canal, which has survived to this day, is 16 km long and runs through Křečkov. Its history can be understood in two parts: its route through the village and its former role in carrying water to the ponds. For anyone interested in historic infrastructure, the canal makes Křečkov easy to understand both as a village and as part of a larger waterworks.

The historic chapel in the village square was extensively reconstructed in 2001 and is one of the village’s cultural monuments. It was once occasionally used for religious purposes; when someone died, its bell was rung. The so-called Umíráček (death knell) was rung in Křečkov until 1982; afterward, its ringing was played from a record through the local public-address system. The timeline shows the change from ringing the bell to playing a recording. The war memorial stands in the village center among lime trees. The chapel, the bell’s history and the memorial offer three different ways to explore the village’s past: a building, a former custom and a place of remembrance.

The multipurpose water reservoir serves two different seasonal uses: swimming in summer and ice skating in winter. If you are planning your visit around either activity, check in advance whether the reservoir is currently available for use. For cyclists, the flat Polabí region offers another local connection: the region has numerous cycling routes. For a specific ride, choose a route that suits your own stages and interests. These involve two different planning considerations: the season matters for the reservoir, while a cycling trip calls for choosing a specific route.

This way, you can choose where to stay based on the activities you actually plan to do.

Discover more destinations: Košík, Krchleby, Opočnice, Chotesice, Oskořínek, Podebrady, Pátek and Okřínek.

What connects Křečkov with the Sánský Canal?

The 16 km-long watercourse runs through Křečkov. It was built in the mid-15th century to carry water from the Cidlina to the ponds at Poděbrady.

What happened to the Umíráček after 1982?

After the bell was rung until 1982, its ringing was played from a record through the local public-address system.

What seasonal uses does the multipurpose water reservoir have?

It is used for swimming in summer and ice skating in winter. If you are planning your visit around this, check in advance whether it is currently available for use.

See the broader travel overview: Okres Nymburk.