Starkoč brings together several reasons to visit: the history of the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, a traditional local festival, and geological features at Starkočský lom. When planning your trip, it helps to decide what you want to focus on: would you like to explore church history and cultural events, experience the Starkočská pouť, or focus on natural history? Your answer can guide both your choice of travel dates and your travel arrangements and search for holiday accommodation.
Church, Culture and Remembrance
The Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary is first mentioned as a parish church in 1352; the present church was built in 1738. The mention of it as a parish church therefore predates the construction of the current building.
The church opens for concerts, talks, tours and community gatherings. Its cultural use can therefore be a reason to visit in addition to its architectural history. If you would like to plan a tour or attend an event, check in advance what is scheduled for your travel dates.
The memorial in Starkoč also preserves a specific memory: it commemorates 20 fellow townspeople who fell on battlefields. Alongside the church’s history, the remembrance of people from the local community provides another point of historical interest.
Festival Dates and Cultural Events
The Starkočská pouť is a traditional local festival followed by musical entertainment. For the 2025 edition, children’s attractions were scheduled from 1 p.m. and an evening event from 8 p.m. The listed events for that year were scheduled for the afternoon and evening; programme details may vary from one edition to another.
When choosing your dates, the pouť should be considered differently from a church programme: for the festival, the date of the particular edition matters, while for concerts or tours, the individual programme is key. If you would like to visit Starkoč for one of these events, coordinate the date with your travel plans.
Geological Features and Places to Visit
Starkočský lom is a palaeontological site and the only known occurrence of the coral Isis miranda in Czechia. As a mineralogical site, it is also associated with large almandine grains and crystals. The quarry therefore offers two different points of natural-history interest: palaeontology and mineralogy.
Čertův důl is also one of the places to visit in Starkoč. The distinction is useful when choosing according to your interests: Starkočský lom is noted for its palaeontological and mineralogical features, while Čertův důl is another place to visit in the area.
Getting There and Finding Accommodation
PID bus route 784 connects Starkoč on the Kutná Hora–Horka I–Vrdy–Čáslav route. Check departure times again before travelling so you can take the current timetable into account when planning your journey.
When looking for a holiday apartment in Starkoč, it helps to decide first on your travel dates and reason for visiting: for the pouť, the date of the particular festival edition matters; for a church programme, it is the individual event date. Then check availability for that exact period and, if travelling by bus, confirm the departure times for route 784.
Discover more destinations: Černíny, Uhlírské Janovice, Čejkovice, Mocovice, Paběnice, Rohozec, Staňkovice, Zhor.
For the broader travel overview: Okres Kutná Hora.
