Velký Bor

Velký Bor is a small municipality in the Klatovy District of the Plzeň Region, in the western part of the Czech Republic. It has roughly 567 to 600 residents and is made up of three parts: Velký Bor itself, Jetenovice, and Slivonice. This entry covers Jetenovice, one of those three parts.

Where is Jetenovice, and how does it relate to Velký Bor?

Jetenovice is a village forming one of the three constituent parts of the Velký Bor municipality, lying about three kilometres northwest of the main village. Around 156 people live there today. The Březový stream runs through the settlement, and the Plzeň–České Budějovice railway line crosses the southern part of its cadastral area, with a stop called Jetenovice serving the village. The first written record of Jetenovice dates back to 1334, making it one of the older settlements in the region.

What is the history behind Velký Bor?

The settlement most likely emerged in the 12th or 13th century below a royal stronghold, with a market town and a parish church growing up at its foot. In the first third of the 14th century, under the lords of Potštejn, a castle was built on the hill above. Hussite forces captured and destroyed it in 1420, and it was never rebuilt — its stone walls were almost entirely dismantled afterward. What did survive was the castle church, later used as a monastery church, dedicated to Saint Burian, which still stands as a link to that earlier period.

What historic sights can visitors find here?

The most significant monument in the area is the Church of Saint John the Baptist, standing at the eastern foot of the hill. Its oldest sections are Romanesque, while its current appearance largely reflects a Baroque remodelling carried out in the 18th century. The combination of a medieval core with later stylistic layers makes it a point of interest for anyone drawn to the ecclesiastical architecture of the Šumava and Pošumaví region.

Who is this destination for?

Velký Bor and Jetenovice represent a typical small rural Czech municipality — quiet, without urban bustle, but with a history that traces back to the Middle Ages. It suits travellers looking for calm countryside, the landscape of the Pošumaví region, and physical traces of a former stronghold and its monastery church, rather than visitors expecting extensive tourist infrastructure.

Frequently asked questions

Is Jetenovice its own municipality?

No. Jetenovice is one of three parts of the Velký Bor municipality, alongside Velký Bor itself and Slivonice. Administratively it belongs entirely to Velký Bor, in the Klatovy District.

How many people live in Jetenovice?

About 156 people live in Jetenovice, while the whole Velký Bor municipality counts around 567 to 600 residents.

How do you get to Jetenovice?

The Plzeň–České Budějovice railway line runs through the southern part of the village, with a dedicated Jetenovice stop, making the settlement reachable by train.

What remains of the old castle at Velký Bor?

The castle itself, captured and destroyed by the Hussites in 1420, was never rebuilt, and its walls were largely dismantled. The church originally attached to it, later used as a monastery church and dedicated to Saint Burian, has survived.

Which church is worth seeing nearby?

The Church of Saint John the Baptist, at the eastern foot of the hill, with a Romanesque core and an 18th-century Baroque remodel.