Hořovičky combines sacred architectural history with gently rolling countryside of forests, fields, meadows and hop gardens. Hop cultivation has also shaped the built environment and character of the town. For travellers looking to combine culture and countryside in one stay, this offers two perspectives: the town’s architectural history and its agriculturally shaped surroundings. Local points of interest also include prehistoric remains and a valuable wetland.
Churches and Architectural History
The Church of St Cyril and Methodius, Kostel sv. Cyrila a Metoděje, and the rectory form a unified ensemble in the Historicist Neo-Romanesque style and are a national cultural monument. The church was built in 1901–1902 as a Protestant church in the Pseudo-Romanesque style; today it is Orthodox. This distinction makes it possible to tell apart the period of construction, its former denomination and its present-day religious affiliation. The interior of the church is accessible during services. If you would like to see inside, take the service schedule into account when planning your visit.
Sacred architectural monuments of various types can also be found in the administrative area of Hořovičky. In the village square in Vrbice stands the Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, Kostel Povýšení sv. Kříže, a national cultural monument in the Neo-Renaissance style. In Hokov, a small chapel with a bell turret is a niche chapel in the form of a deep recess in the built-up area, and is also a national cultural monument. Comparing the Neo-Renaissance church, the niche chapel and the ensemble in Hořovičky reveals different forms of sacred architecture within the administrative area.
Prehistory and Townscape
The history of the town reaches far beyond the architectural history of its churches. Hořovičky has prehistoric remains, with finds from the Neolithic, the Únětice culture and the Early La Tène period, including a princely tomb. These groups of finds offer a distinct perspective on the town’s prehistory alongside the later architectural history of its churches. For travellers, this creates a broad sweep through time, from archaeological remains to the named sacred buildings.
Hop cultivation has long shaped the built environment and character of Hořovičky. The townscape is dominated by large, multi-storey, masonry post-classical houses with extensive agricultural buildings designed for hop cultivation. This agricultural influence is evident not only in the hop gardens but also in the purpose of the agricultural buildings. It connects the town’s history with a distinctive form of architecture and gives a visit to Hořovičky a particular focus.
Landscape of Hop Gardens and Wetlands
The landscape around Hořovičky is gently rolling, with a mosaic of forests, fields, meadows and hop gardens. Here, hops connect the landscape with the townscape: they are part of the landscape mosaic described here and have also shaped the built environment and character of Hořovičky. The registered landscape feature of Šmikousy is a former pond and a valuable wetland. It offers a different contrast to the agriculturally shaped areas and adds a former pond landscape to the picture of the countryside. Jesenicko Nature Park lies south of Hořovičky.
What to Consider When Planning Your Trip
You can weigh up the different themes according to your interests when choosing a destination: the churches represent architectural history and a range of styles; the prehistoric finds span a much earlier period; and the hop gardens and agricultural buildings reflect the area’s agricultural character. The landscape and Šmikousy add their own natural focus. If you are looking for a hotel in Hořovičky, you can first consider whether culture and local history or the countryside and wetland are more important to your stay.
Discover more destinations: Zbečno, Kolešov, Janov, Rynholec, Přílepy, Mšecké Žehrovice, Příčina, Lubná
For the wider travel overview: Okres Rakovník.
