Towns

This is a little town at the Brdy foothills with an urban monument zone. It was first mentioned in 1239. In the 14^th century, today’s ground plan with a large square, a church, a fortress and 24 fields (cadastres) was shaped. The town’s development started during the Renaissance period when it was owned by the Vratislavs of Mitrovice. During the Thirty Years’ War, it burned several times and finally gained the denomination “Spálené” (in Czech, “burned down”). This little town with its early 20^th century atmosphere welcomes all visitors. It offers all kinds of services, including period accommodation in listed buildings, Hotel ve Dvoře and the Joachima Loewidt Guest House.

Information center – Infocentrum

Náměstí Svobody 138, Spálené Poříčí
+420 605 368 410, www.spaleneporici.cz, infocentrum@spaleneporici.cz

VI.-IX. 9.00-12.00, 13.00-17.00 hod.

Recommended:

Padrťské rybníky in Brdy – a new bike route through a former military zone.

The new museum of Brdy and a cartoon gallery in a grange opposite the castle.

The Spálené Poříčí Renaissance Castle

was built by Adam Vratislav of Mitrovice on the site of a former Gothic fortress in 1617. In the 19^th century, a Neo-gothic tower was added.

The Baroque Deanery

in the square with its high mansard roof was rebuilt to its current appearance in 1780. It is decorated with the Prague St Vitus Chapter House symbol. It features popular Baroque shapes, above window cornices and a cornice above the door. A bronze plaque reminds us of writer Jindřich Šimon Baar, who used to live in the town. In 1820, one of the first readers’ clubs in Bohemia was opened here.

There is a timbered folk building on the square

in close proximity to the Deanery. This is an example of folk architecture in the south Pilsen Region (where you can see a traditional lay-out with an entry hall, a scullery, 2 bread furnaces and open-fire lighting). A typical regional feature is a large clinker brick above the front gable. The timbered section of the house is covered in plaster, called a “fur coat”.

The Jewish cemetery

has been documented in the town since the mid 17^th century. The oldest legible date on a gravestone comes from 1801. A monument was erected in the place of the former synagogue in the Jewish town.

The Jewish Merchant’s House

was built in the 18^th century. This multi-story building with a courtyard wooden gallery and a mansard roof has a Jewish scullery with two fireplaces to separate the preparation of meat and dairy meals. It was built as a residential house and used as such until the end of WWII. Today, it houses the Joachim Loewidt wine cellar and guest house.

The Church of St Nicolas
The first structure dates back to the 14^th century. Later, the church was rebuilt several times until its current appearance from 1882. The interior hides a precious interior and a bell from the early 16^th century.

Do not miss:

The sites of Spálené Poříčí come back to life every year during the Spálené Poříčí Summer Festival when exhibitions, folk and classical music concerts and an open air cinema are held amidst the historic atmosphere.

The summer ends with town festivities during European Heritage Days, held in the second half of September.

Make sure to visit other historic towns :

The Kozel Chateau

Šťáhlavy 67, +420 377 969 040, +420 377 969 041

info@zamek-kozel.cz

This Classicist hunting chateau built by Jan Vojtěch Černín is unique because of its well-preserved landscape park. The chateau and adjacent building have been continuously used and therefore have been preserved as an example of housing at the turn of the 19^th century as can be seen on a guided tour.

The Nebílovy Castle

+420 377 917 090, nebilovy@mybox.cz

The Nebílovy “Flower” Castle is an exceptional Vienna Baroque style structure of two opposite castles, unique in Bohemia. It dates back to 1706-1719

Events: The Nebílovy Cultural Summer (June), concerts by the Pilsen Academy of Music students (all year round), Haydn’s Baroque and Classical Music Festival (September)

–        partially also held in the Dolní Lukavice Castle

Klatovy

This is a royal town with a unique tradition of Jesuit education and knowledge. The entire historic center has been recently renovated and two town monasteries have been reopened. Klatovy has repeatedly won the regional round of the Historic Town of the Year contest.

The Information Center

Náměstí Míru 63, 339 01  Klatovy

+420 376 347 240, +420 376 347 250 , www.klatovy.cz/icklatovy, icklatovy@mukt.cz

Catacombs: Under the Jesuit Church, coffins with monastic brethren’s bodies wearing black cassocks and noble supporters of the order in beautiful clothes are on display.

Náměstí Míru, Klatovy +420 376 320 160, www.klatovy.cz

The Black Tower: This 81.6 meter tall tower was built between 1547 and 1555. It provides a beautiful view of the town, the Šumava Mountains panorama and at full visibility you can even see the Alps.

Náměstí Míru, Klatovy  +420  376 370 911, www.klatovy.cz

Events: The Klatovy Fair, a folklore festival (July), Klatovy’s Carnation Exposition (July), European Heritage Days (September) náměstí Míru, St Wenceslas Festivities (September) náměstí Míru.

Services for cyclists: Information about services for cyclists in the region and bike rentals. www.plzenskonakole.cz

Stříbro

Stříbro was built on a pronounced rock above a river as a royal mining town, fortified with bastions and gates. In the urban monument zone with well preserved Gothic fortification and towers, you can find a unique Renaissance town hall, a cloister, the Prokop royal shaft and a mining skanzen.

The Information Center and the Municipal Museum are located in the former Minorite Monastery.

Masarykovo nám. 21, 349 01 Stříbro.

+420 374 627 247, www.stribro.cz

The Mining Skanzen

+420 602 264 077, www.hornickyspolekstribro.cz

Town festivities (June), European Heritage Days (September)

Dobřany

Having renovated its historic center with an urban monument zone, it has become a gem of the south Pilsen area. In the center are two Baroque churches. The square is ringed with fancy town houses and a town hall with a renowned mini brewery. Both renovated churches with bell towers create a typical panorama when viewed from the stone bridge. Jan Žižka of Trocnov is said to have passed this Gothic bridge across the Radbuza River.

Městské kulturní středisko

Náměstí T.G.M. 5 334 41 Dobřany

+420 606 79 59 65, www.dobrany.cz, kultura@dobrany.cz

Nepomuk

Nepomuk is the home town of the world’s best known Baroque saint, St John Nepomucenus. It is a town with two large churches, lying in the middle of a picturesque landscape so far unexplored by tourists. Its prosperity was related to the foundation of a Cistercian monastery in 1144 and later by St John pilgrimages in the 18^th century.

Information center – Infocentrum

Náměstí A. Němejce 126, 335 01  Nepomuk

+420 371 591 167, +420 602 328 622,  www.nepomucko.cz, infocentrum@nepomuk.cz

Augustin Němejec’s Birth House and Museum – dedicated to a painter who depicted Pilsen regional folk costumes and traditions in a unique way. He also drew the curtain of the Pilsen Theater.

Events: Traditional St John Nepomucenus Pilgrimage (end of March)

Sculptors’ and Carvers’ Symposium (early July)

Plzeň

The world-famous capital of West Bohemia lies on the confluence of four rivers. It is a royal city with an urban monument reservation area and a well preserved ground plan that dates back to when the town’s foundation. The city has the largest Renaissance town hall in Bohemia and a cathedral with a Madonna in the Bohemian “beautiful Madonna” style. The city is famous for its past and present beer brewing.

Information center – Infocentrum

Nám. Republiky 41, 301 16  Plzeň

+420 378 035 330, www.icpilsen.cz,  www.plzen.eu, info@icpilsen.cz

Cathedral of St Bartholomew

Construction started in 1295 and took several centuries. The marl statue of the Pilsen Madonna comes from 1390.

The Great Synagogue

The Great Synagogue is the second largest synagogue in Europe and third largest in the world. It was built in the Moorish-Romanesque style in 1894.

Other places of interest: The Plzeňský Prazdroj Visitor Center, The Meditation Garden, The Diocese Museum in the Franciscan Monastery Cloisters.

Events: Smetana’s Days Festival (February – March), Finále Film Festival (April), Liberation Festival (May), Historical Weekend (June), On the Street Festival (August)