Chelčice – A Paradise of Fruit Trees
Chelčice is not listed as a town, but it definitely belongs in our file. Apart from its historical significance within South Bohemia, it also has a great tradition of fruit tree cultivation. Where the Blanice River enters the Českobudějovice Basin, the Bavorovská hilly area shows itself in all its beauty: full of meadows, forests and fruit trees. The first mention of the village dates back to 1352 and everything here revolves around the personality of Petr Chelčický.
The village’s landmark is the originally Romanesque Church of St. Martin, rebuilt in the 14th century, which was also visited by Petr Chelčický. The original noble and first known aristocratic family, Hrůza of Chelčice, resided in 1390 at the nearby Helfenburk Castle near Bavorov. In 1444, Oldřich of Rožmberk appointed Václav Hrůza of Chelčice as the local burgrave. In the following century, Chelčice came into the possession of the knights of Malovice.
The village has twice received the title of "South Bohemian Village of the Year," in 2000 and 2013. The civic association Mája – Tvořivé Chelčice is actively involved in developing social, educational, and cultural activities within the community and its surroundings. This association includes nine independent interest groups.
Chelčice is renowned for its deep-rooted fruit-growing tradition. A written record from 1860 notes that cherries from Chelčice were carried in baskets to the market in České Budějovice. Some locally significant varieties were cultivated in Chelčice, such as the "Libějovická raná" cherry and the "Petr Chelčický" apple, followed by additional varieties over time. Intensive orchards began being planted in Chelčice in 1967. Today, the Chelčice region grows the latest varieties of apples, cherries, sour cherries, and currants. Chelčice is also well-known across the Czech Republic for its advancements in biological methods for orchard protection.
Additional information
Notable Personalities
- Petr Chelčický (1390-1460) - only very sketchy information about him has survived, making him a figure of rather mysterious identity. He was born sometime around 1380 and probably died in the 1550s. Already during Hus's lifetime he became an enthusiastic supporter of the reform movement, calling for the reformation and renewal of the Church. After 1420, he broke with all Hussite parties and set out on his own path to fulfill God's law.
Our Tip
In addition to the Memorial Hall, the adjacent Nature Garden, which is a community garden, is open to visitors. The garden is part of the St. Linhart's Home in Chelčice, a charity dedicated to people with disabilities.
Do you know that...
...during the presentation of the South Bohemian Village of the Year 2000 award, the Peter Chelčický Memorial Hall was inaugurated together with a multi-purpose facility for the needs of the village? A wooden statue of Chelčický was also made from the municipal collection and stands on the small square in front of the memorial.
