In Popovice, the Gothic Church of St. James stands alongside the water castle to the west, by the mill pond. For a stay focused on architectural and local history, these are two clearly distinct historical points of interest. Their details span medieval Gothic architecture, traces of the Renaissance and Baroque additions. Local festival traditions, as well as a green-marked hiking trail and cycle route 0068, further shape the character of the village. If you choose Popovice as your destination, you can combine cultural interests with active excursions during the same stay.

Church and water castle: layers of architectural history

Popovice Water Castle stands west of the village church by the mill pond and was remodelled into its present form in the 18th century. Part of the original Gothic perimeter wall has been preserved on its eastern side by the pond. Fragments of Renaissance sgraffito decoration remain on the north wing and its risalit. Sgraffito is a decorative technique in which patterns are carved into a layer of plaster. In the courtyard, a Gothic defensive tower with a modern-era brick extension adjoins the north wing. The water castle therefore reveals several distinct building phases: the Gothic wall and defensive tower, the Renaissance decoration, and the later 18th-century remodelling.

The Church of St. James is a Gothic building dating from the 14th century and has been documented in written records since 1352. Around 1730, a side chapel with Baroque furnishings was added on the south side of the nave. The tower on the west façade has a bell-shaped shingle roof. It houses a historic bell made by Bartoloměj of Nové Město Pražské in 1512. The Gothic building, Baroque chapel and dated bell thus represent different aspects of the church’s history. Mass is celebrated at the Church of St. James at 10:00 a.m. on the first and third Sunday of each month. If you plan to attend a service, check the current schedule before travelling, as times may change.

Festival traditions and past events

Zabíjačkové hody (traditional Czech pig-slaughter feast) is traditionally held in Popovice during the first week of November. If you would like to plan your stay around this celebration, check the current date before travelling. One specific example of a local custom is the Masopust carnival procession on 3 February 2024: it went exclusively through Popovice and featured almost 30 masks. Hasičské odpoledne (Firefighters’ Afternoon) took place in 2018, 2019 and 2023. The 2023 programme included nearly ten activity stations for children and a slide; in 2018, visitors could go on inflatable boat rides on the local pond. These programme details refer to past editions. If a festival is central to your trip, check the date and programme for the relevant edition.

Hiking and cycling

A green-marked hiking trail passes through Popovice. Cycle route 0068 runs through the village along a lime-tree avenue. These provide two distinct points of reference for planning an active trip: a marked route for hiking and a named cycle route with a lime-tree avenue. Check the trail markings locally before setting out on a hike. When planning, you can weigh the village’s historical highlights against a trip that includes hiking or cycling, without assuming that both activities follow the same route.

Discover more destinations: Olbramovice, Libohošť, Tisem, Litichovice, Lipiny U Radosovic, Zvěstov, Mrač, Vrchotovy Janovice

For the overview of the wider area: Benešov District.