Křenice: Bell, History and Cycle Route No. 1

Early Traces and Village History

Archaeological finds show that people had settled in Křenice and its immediate surroundings as early as around the 6th century BC. Two prehistoric finds have also been discovered in the municipality: a La Tène bronze ring and a stone axe from the Stroked Pottery culture. The village was first mentioned in writing in 1331.

A fortress was probably built there as early as the 13th century. Until 1650, the former fortress stood on the site of the former manorial farmyard; no other traces of it remain. Only a fragment of the buildings of the former farmyard survives. The village’s history therefore encompasses both the long period of early settlement and later architectural changes.

The war memorial was erected in the 1920s. It commemorates eleven men born in Křenice who died in the First World War. Alongside the historic architectural features, it also brings the memory of specific people from the village into focus.

Bell, Cross and Surviving Architectural Features

The oldest surviving landmark in Křenice is a bell dating from 1747, made by Jan Horálek. The present-day stone bell tower dates from around the turn of the 20th century. The bell and the present-day tower therefore represent different periods of construction.

Next to the bell tower stands a wayside cross on a plinth dating from 1841. It depicts Jesus on the cross and Mary. The cross itself came from a cemetery cross and is considerably newer. The bell tower and cross together form a fine example of 19th-century folk stonework.

The other historic buildings also vary in their construction and state of preservation. The former cowshed, built in 1875, is relatively well preserved and made of rough, cyclopean granite masonry. By contrast, only the exterior walls of the Baroque granary, built in 1780, remain. This comparison shows that Křenice’s architectural history includes both relatively well-preserved buildings and structures that survive only in a much-reduced state.

Cycling and Choosing Your Accommodation

Cycle Route No. 1 passes through Křenice, adding a specific theme for cycling travellers to the village’s historical connections. Architectural history and cycling appeal to different interests: one perspective focuses on the village’s history, the other on a route that passes through it. If you’re looking for a holiday apartment, you can consider which of these themes you want your trip to follow—or whether you’d like to include both. This way, you can start choosing based on the kind of stay you have in mind, rather than on a generic idea of a holiday.

Discover more destinations: Žernovka, Radonice, Kunice, Lázně Toušeň, Sluhy, Mochov, Úvaly, Oleška

Return to the overview of the wider area: Okres Praha-Východ.