Gießhübel B. Buchau: History, monuments and landscape

For a stay in Gießhübel B. Buchau, local history and the surrounding landscape are the main focus: Kysibl Castle, religious monuments, the former site of a water castle, and the Doupovské hory Natura 2000 site. Two cycling routes run through the administrative area of Stružná. Together, they offer different perspectives on the area—from the architectural history of individual buildings to designated landscape areas and routes. The details below will help you choose what to focus on for your trip and distinguish between architectural history, landscape features and route information.

Kysibl Castle and its architectural history

Kysibl Castle in Stružná was built before 1598. In the 17th and 18th centuries, it was expanded into a large three-winged Baroque building; in 1876–1877, it was converted into a palace in the Neo-Renaissance style. The sequence reveals an early building, a large-scale Baroque expansion and a later redesign. The castle has been a protected monument since 3 May 1958. The term “three-winged” refers to the size of the Baroque complex; the later palace form belongs to a further, much later construction phase.

Religious monuments and historic sites

The cemetery chapel of St. Joseph, with an adjoining mortuary, is part of the area’s religious architectural history. It was built in 1926 in the cemetery northwest of Stružná. Another monument is the Late Baroque sandstone statue of St. John of Nepomuk in Stružná: it was fully restored in 2018 and is freely accessible. If you plan to visit the statue, check access again before your trip.

A Gothic water castle, probably dating from the second half of the 14th century, stood in the area around the pond on the hillside in the eastern part of Stružná. This historic castle site adds another type of building to the architectural history of the castle. Another historic point of interest is the iron cross near Stružná: it was erected in 1874 in an avenue on the site of an older cross, about 550 metres southeast of the municipality. Between 2017 and 2020, a new cast-iron cross was installed on the plinth, which had previously been relocated.

Landscape and cycling routes

The Doupovské hory Natura 2000 site, an area of community importance with the code CZ0424125, lies within the administrative area of the municipality of Stružná. Činovské louky is registered as a significant landscape feature in the cadastral area of Stružná; the land parcels concerned are 254/1, 281 and 688/1. It is helpful to distinguish between them for orientation: Doupovské hory is an area of community importance, while Činovské louky is associated with specific land parcels.

For cyclists, two routes provide specific sequences of places. Cycling route 2249 runs through the administrative area of Stružná along the route Šemnice – Dubina – Vojenský újezd Hradiště – Žalmanov – Horní Tašovice – Luka – Valeč. Cycling route 2288A runs through the area from Horní Tašovice rozcestí via Tašovický mlýn to Dlouhá Lomnice. The place names are presented differently: route 2249 lists several stops in sequence, while 2288A gives a starting point, an intermediate location and a destination. Before cycling, check the course of both routes so you can compare the place names with the route you intend to ride.

Getting there by road

The major I/6 road is another useful point of reference: it passes through the administrative area of Stružná and connects Karlovy Vary with Prague. If you plan to use this route for your journey, check the current traffic conditions before setting off.

Discover more destinations: Grasengrün, Karlovy Vary, Landeck, Luditz, Welchau, Schönthal, Neudek, Janessen

For the wider travel overview: Karlovy Vary District.