Strupčice: Culture and Mining Landscape

Strupčice is well suited to a stay focused on local history, mining heritage, and regional activities. The following sections highlight the main points to consider when planning your trip.

Church and Historical Heritage

Two different points in time help put the area into context: Strupčice was first mentioned in writing in 1352, while archaeological research shows that the surrounding area was settled more than 4,000 years ago. St. Wenceslas Church dates back to the 14th century and was remodeled in 1780. The history of the village thus brings together early archaeological traces and specific dates relating to its first written mention and the church’s construction.

Protected heritage includes a sandstone statue by Johann Vetter dating from 1723. Originally from the abandoned village of Tušimice, it stands in a park by the stream behind the church. The church grounds also contain a roughly hewn stone cross from the 16th century, protected by the state and originally from Vrchnice. The two monuments therefore differ both in their places of origin and in their form.

Maják and the Changing Landscape

The wooden Maják lookout tower stands on a former spoil heap, about 0.5 km northeast of Strupčice. Four painted maps on the tower compare today’s panorama with the landscape before hard coal mining and include the vanished villages below the Ore Mountains. The maps therefore focus on changes to the landscape. If they are important to your plans, check their current condition in advance.

Near the preserved brick kiln chimneys on the western edge of Strupčice, an approximately 10 m-high quarry face is still accessible. It offers a different perspective from the maps: here, the quarry face itself takes center stage, while the panels compare changes in the panorama.

Educational Trail, Cycling Route, and Leisure Activities

Printable worksheets are available for the Strupčice educational trail, for children aged 7 to 11 and for people aged 11 and over. The Chomutovsko mobile app also offers two child-friendly versions of the existing educational trail: one for younger children and one for older schoolchildren. Check the app’s current availability in advance.

The Chomutov–Strupčice cycling route runs about 500 m from the Maják lookout point. Route conditions and signage can change, so check both before setting out. This lets you consider the cycling route as a separate planning point without equating the distance between the route and the lookout point with a specific route length.

The Sportovní areál Strupčice sports complex includes a swimming pool, mini golf, beach volleyball courts, and a campsite. Opening hours and the availability of individual facilities may change. If you plan to use these amenities, check the latest information in advance.

Festivals and Culinary Traditions

The traditional Garlic Festival and St. Wenceslas Pilgrimage in Strupčice are categorized as market and fair events. They took place as such on September 28, 2024; dates and programs may vary with each edition. If you would like to plan your trip around a festival, check the date and program for the relevant edition.

At the 2019 Garlic Festival, food stalls offered traditional garlic specialties, including garlic soup, potato pancakes, garlic strudel, koláčky, and spreads. These dishes were part of that year’s festival offerings; the selection may differ at later editions.

Discover more destinations: Radonice, Černovice U Chomutova, Bílence, Svahová, Jirkov, Veliká Ves, Všehrdy, Račetice

For the overview of the wider area: Chomutov District.