Gossengrün: Church, Half-Timbered Houses and Local History

Gossengrün (Krajková) combines historic architectural styles with a tangible local history. Its church, Marian column, plague column, and preserved half-timbered and plank houses point to different eras. The “Ve stopách Habartovského pochodu” route is 21.7 kilometers long, runs mostly on paved paths, and is also recommended for cycling.

A Church with Several Building Phases

The church “Kostel sv. Petra a Pavla” in Krajková was first mentioned in writing in 1357; its origins are Gothic. It was renovated in the Renaissance style in the 16th century and received a new tower in the 19th century. The different building phases stand side by side, rather than a single style defining the church’s history. Its furnishings add distinctive touches: the church has a Rococo altar with acanthus ornaments, as well as a masterful Italian wood carving from the 18th century. The building’s history and craftsmanship offer different ways to date the structure. The last documented reconstruction took place in 1996–1997.

Marian Column and Plague Column

The Marian column stands below the church. Countess Marie Polixena z Písnice donated it to the town in 1701; it was renovated in 1922. The plague column has a different association: it stands on the road from Krajková to Květná and commemorates the plague epidemic of 1680. A local company repaired it in 2008 and set it upright again. This distinguishes two different historical associations: the Marian column’s endowment and the plague memorial at the second column. Details of the repair add a later intervention to the history of the plague column without changing its original commemorative purpose.

Half-Timbered Houses, a Chapel and Lace-Making

Several valuable half-timbered and plank houses in the Upper Ohře style have been preserved in Krajková. They were built after the town fire of 1807; examples include Haasův dvůr, house number 145. The connection with the fire places these houses in the reconstruction period, while the regional style provides a distinct architectural reference. Another historic date is associated with the Svatojánská kaplička: Julius Heinrich von Pissnitz made its construction possible in 1761. Lace-making is also part of the town’s history. It developed after the decline of mining and is reflected in the town’s name today. The local history thus brings together changes to the built environment and a craft tradition.

Cycling Route and Getting to the Church

The “Ve stopách Habartovského pochodu” route is 21.7 kilometers long, runs mostly on paved paths, and is also recommended for cycling. Its length and the type of paths are useful details when planning a bike ride. To visit the church in Krajková, you can travel from Sokolov on bus lines 480570 and 480580. Hřebeny railway station, 2.5 kilometers away, is on line 145 between Sokolov and Kraslice. If you plan to use the bus for your trip, check the timetables for the lines mentioned in advance.

Discover more destinations: Neusattl, Josefsdorf, Bleistadt, Falkenau An Der Eger, Brösau, Unterneugrün, Rothau, Schönfeld

See the main travel overview: Falkenau An Der Eger District.