Blovice – Cultural History Around Hradiště Castle

If you are looking for a hotel in Blovice, you can base your choice of destination on a clear historical focus. Hradiště Castle combines its present-day Neo-Gothic appearance with preserved remains of an older Gothic fortress and a historical cellar exhibition. Other highlights include the Baroque Church of St. John the Evangelist with the Kolowrat family tomb chapel, details of the castle park and the Blovice biotope. These places offer different points of interest, from architectural history and landscaped grounds to water purification. When planning your stay, you can start by considering which of these themes you would most like it to focus on.

Hradiště Castle and its history

The Neo-Gothic Hradiště Castle stands on the southeastern edge of Blovice, on a promontory bounded by the Úslava River and the Komoranský Stream. If you like to understand historic buildings in relation to their setting, you will find a clear connection to the landscape here: the castle stands on the promontory between the two waterways.

Its present-day appearance took shape during an extensive Neo-Gothic renovation from 1872 to 1874. Remains of the original Gothic fortress have also been preserved in the castle cellar. The site thus brings together a later Neo-Gothic form and older architectural traces in one place.

The historical cellar exhibition traces the castle’s development during the Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque and Empire periods. It uses 3D models, video presentations and archaeological finds. These different forms of interpretation offer more than one way to explore the building’s history: models illustrate its development, while the finds provide an archaeological perspective. If you plan to visit the exhibition, check the current access arrangements in advance, as they may change.

Church, tomb chapel and castle park

The Baroque Church of St. John the Evangelist stands on a terrace above the Úslava and is a protected cultural monument. The Kolowrat family tomb chapel stands north of the church nave. It is an Empire-style chapel dating from 1833. The church and chapel are easy to distinguish: the Baroque church is followed by a separate tomb chapel that differs in both style and date.

The design of the castle park is also part of Hradiště’s cultural history. During the extensive Neo-Gothic transformation of the castle from 1872 to 1874, the park was laid out in the fashionable English style of the time. A surviving brick bridge adds a distinctive detail: its railing is formed to resemble interconnected tree stumps and branches. This single structure combines brickwork with a railing whose shape draws on natural motifs.

Biotope, hiking route and getting there

The Blovice biotope adds a different subject to the area’s historic sites. Water is purified there using a biological method without chemical treatment: lagoons planted with aquatic plants filter the water. The biotope also includes a wooden footbridge and a lawn for sunbathing. As facilities may change, check the latest information if you plan to visit the biotope.

The Museum of the Southern Pilsen Region in Blovice lies on the blue KČT hiking route 1413. As route markings may change, it is a good idea to check the current signage before planning your visit. Blovice can be reached by bus and train; schedules and connections may change, so check them before you travel. This makes it possible to choose a hotel in Blovice to suit the cultural and historical sites that interest you and the travel options that work best for you.

Discover more destinations: Stod, Robčice, Lisov, Trebcice, Borovno, Chlumčany U Přeštic, Kasejovice, Životice

For the main travel overview: Plzeň-Jih.