Polní Voděrady between the castle and the church

Church and castle: two architectural features

A Baroque vestibule stands in front of the west façade of the Church of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary. The façade is crowned by a Baroque gable bearing a stone group depicting the Visitation of the Virgin Mary, dating from 1770. Thus, the west side brings together a vestibule, a gable and a precisely dated sculptural group. For travellers interested in architectural history, these are specific details that help describe the character of the church.

The cemetery surroundings are also part of the site’s heritage context: the cemetery wall, gates, staircase and valuable tombstones are listed together with the church grounds in the Ústřední seznam nemovitých kulturních památek České republiky (Central Register of Immovable Cultural Monuments of the Czech Republic). The register entry therefore includes several parts of the cemetery as well as the church architecture.

Today’s Polní Voděrady Castle offers a different architectural feature. It is a Neoclassical building dating from 1810–1811, with no older structural elements. It stands on the eastern edge of town, on the road to Kolín, and is surrounded by a park. The Baroque details of the church and the Neoclassical form of the castle offer contrasting points of interest: two distinct historical themes stand side by side in Polní Voděrady.

Local history and a regional cycling tour

The first mention of Polní Voděrady dates from 1088, when the town is recorded as property of the Vyšehrad Chapter. This date offers a glimpse into the town’s early history. Today’s castle belongs to a much later chapter: the Neoclassical building dates from 1810–1811. The dates therefore mark different historical reference points: the first mention of the town and the period when the castle was built.

Polní Voděrady is located 8.5 kilometres southwest of Kolín, at an elevation of 322 metres. These details add a brief geographical context to the town’s history. Polní Voděrady also features on a regional cycling trip: “Cyklovýlet za Labskými vyhlídkami a údolím Polepky” is listed as a suggested tour in a tourism strategy document from December 2022. The route outlined there runs from Kolín via Nová Ves I, Křehoř, Libodřice, Polní Voděrady, Lošany, Kbel, Ratboř, Pašinka and Polepy, before returning to Kolín. This places the town on a regional tour idea that includes several stops and starts and ends in Kolín.

What matters to you when choosing a destination

For families travelling together, the options are easy to distinguish: those interested in architectural history can explore the different features of the church and castle; those planning to cycle can consider the suggested regional route. When looking for a holiday apartment, you can weigh these interests and consider what role Polní Voděrady should play in your stay. If the cycling tour is part of your plans, check the current route and road conditions before setting out.

Discover more destinations: Svojšice, Žiželice, Jestřabí Lhota, Drahobudice, Pňov-Předhradí, Žehuň, Hradešín, Ždánice.

Return to the main travel overview: Kolín District.