Velenice U Zákup: Hotels and Accommodation

Velenice lies in the valley of the Svitava River. The landscape combines forests, sandstone rocks and a hilly plateau characteristic of the foothills of the Lusatian Mountains – an unusually diverse setting for a place with remarkable cultural and historical traces.

Nature

Velenický kopec is a distinctive, forested basalt hill standing 417 metres high, with a rocky ridge and scree slopes overgrown with forest. The summit view is overgrown; today, Velenice can be viewed from a meadow below the edge of the forest. The landscape around Velenice is suitable for hiking.

Culture

The Baroque Church of the Holy Trinity in Velenice was completed in 1735 and solemnly consecrated on 25 July 1735. In 1995, a village heritage conservation zone was designated in Velenice. Local landmarks also include the stone Schill Cross, bearing the year 1633.

The Boží hrob Chapel lies about 350 metres from Velenice on the left-hand side of the road leading eastwards from the village towards nearby Brniště. The rock chapel was carved into a sandstone rock in 1710–1711 by the local farmer Schille. Inside the chapel are reliefs carved into the sandstone rocks, dating from the second decade of the 18th century, depicting the Passion cycle and the suffering of Christ. They are considered a unique testimony to Baroque folk piety and the veneration of Christ’s suffering. About 50 metres from the rock chapel, a folk relief of the Crucifixion has been carved into the rock.

History

The remains of Velenice Castle include a narrow cellar carved out of the rock and the foundations of a rectangular sandstone structure. In the 14th century, the medieval fortress of Velenice belonged to a fief held by Hanuš Pancíř ze Smojna.

Throughout the Year

Next to the Chapel of St. Joseph, Petra Pilná and Josef Vörös began creating a wooden nativity scene, the Velenický betlém, in 2018. The ceremonial lighting of the Velenický betlém takes place every year on the Saturday before the first Sunday of Advent. The event also features delicacies prepared by local housewives. At the event, the person whose homemade product is judged the tastiest in the competition receives the title “Velenická kulinářská hvězda”.

Routes

The educational trail from Zákupy can be extended with a walk to Velenice. An excursion route from Zákupy leads downhill towards Velenice.

To the higher-level travel overview: Česká Lípa District.

More destinations

More places within the same destination:

Prachen, Skalice U České Lípy, Svor, Kunratice U Cvikova, Dubá, Slunečná, Volfartice, Blíževedly.