Hostouň combines the history of its Jewish cemeteries with Baroque architecture and the visible remains of a historic manor farm. The two Jewish cemeteries offer different historical periods and also differ in location and access. The Old Cemetery lies in a narrow valley and has no direct access road; a passable unpaved road leads to the New Cemetery, with parking available nearby. The centre of Hostouň lies in the valley of the Sulovický potok.
The Jewish Cemeteries of Hostouň
The New Jewish Cemetery contains around 340 gravestones dating from 1856 to 1936. It lies southwest of the centre of Hostouň on a slope above the Sulovický potok. A passable unpaved road leads there from the Hostouň–Pavlov road; parking is available nearby. As access conditions may change, check them before your visit.
The Old Jewish Cemetery was established in the first half of the 18th century. Its oldest gravestone dates from 1786, and the last burial took place in 1848; around 40 gravestones remain. The cemetery is freely accessible; as access conditions may change, check them before your visit. It lies around 600 metres from the centre of Hostouň in the narrow valley of the Sulovický potok. There is no direct access road: from the end of the road, the approach runs alongside a garden and along the edge of a field.
The Church and Šafránov Fortress
The Church of St. Bartholomew is a Baroque church dating from the early 18th century. Its origins lie in the Middle Ages; it was enlarged in the early 18th century and received its tower in 1773. Thus, the Baroque designation sits alongside a medieval origin: the building’s history spans more than a single date of construction.
The farmstead with Šafránov Fortress was the most important manor farm in Hostouň; its remains are still visible today. The fortress is a stone building with a Renaissance core. It was altered and extended in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries; in the second half of the 20th century, it was partially dismantled. A Renaissance core refers to the older core of the building; the later alterations and extensions show that the complex changed over several centuries.
The two buildings offer a concrete comparison across time: at St. Bartholomew’s, medieval origins meet an enlargement in the early 18th century. At Šafránov Fortress, the Renaissance core marks the beginning of a later succession of changes, culminating in partial dismantling. This makes it possible to distinguish their different building histories without assigning them to a single period.
A Local Tradition
Alongside the architectural heritage is Bartolomějské posvícení, a long-standing local tradition that is still celebrated in Hostouň. The exact dates vary from year to year. If you would like to plan your stay around it, check the dates for the relevant year before travelling.
Discover more destinations: Jarpice, Pozdeň, Libochovičky, Kamenný Most, Ledce, Horní Bezděkov, Hospozín, Libušín.
Return to the regional travel overview: Kladno District.
