Velká Chmelištná lies in Jesenicko Nature Park. The village’s history can be seen in specific buildings and traces in the landscape: from the village square with its ponds and traditional farmsteads to the remains of a fortified settlement. This allows you to distinguish between several facets of the place when choosing where to stay, rather than focusing on just one monument.
Village Square and Visible History
In the village centre, near the crossroads of the Čistá–Velká Chmelištná and Nová Ves–Křekovice roads, stands a sandstone statue of Saint Procopius. It is about four metres high. Its position at the crossroads firmly anchors the monument in the village centre, while its approximate height and sandstone material give it a clearly recognisable character.
The centre of Velká Chmelištná is a spacious village square with three ponds. Traditional farmsteads with entrance gates and outbuildings have been preserved along the square. The historic village centre is therefore made up of more than individual buildings: their arrangement along the square and the ponds also shape the character of the centre. Farmstead No. 7, a Baroque building, is another example that can be dated precisely. Built in 1680, it has been preserved as a half-timbered structure.
On the eastern side of the village, near Čočkův Pond, the remains of a fortified settlement with a defensive ditch are visible. These traces in the landscape offer a different way of exploring the past from the preserved farmsteads: here, the focus is not on a building but on the outline of an earlier fortification.
From Settlement History to the Church
Velká Chmelištná was founded around 1039 during the Czech internal colonisation. The settlement of Hůrky is also part of the municipality; it originated as a mining settlement in the Middle Ages. The histories of the two places differ in their historical context: Velká Chmelištná was founded during the period of internal colonisation, while Hůrky is associated with medieval mining.
The Church of Saint Bartholomew was rebuilt and furnished in 1774. The present-day Late Baroque building has a single nave, a rectangular presbytery and an onion dome. The Neo-Baroque church tower dates from between 1905 and 1910 and is visible from almost every part of the municipality’s cadastral area. The dates distinguish two historical periods: the church’s reconstruction in the 18th century and the tower’s later construction.
Event and Fishing at the Village Pond
The annual Memoriál Jiřího Uvíry brings volunteer fire brigades from the surrounding area together for competitions and an entertainment programme. It takes place on the second Saturday in July each year. If you want to plan your visit around this event, check that year’s programme in advance; this recurring date offers a different way to plan your stay than a visit focused on the historic buildings.
Sport fishing is permitted at the large village pond in accordance with the fishing regulations dated 5 May 2023. Check the current conditions before making plans so that you can assess this activity based on the regulations currently in force.
Historical Traces in the Surrounding Area
The forest settlement of Svatý Hubert lies nearby, on the road between Velká Chmelištná and Drahouš. The Svatý Hubert hunting lodge was built in the mid-18th century by Count Prokop Černín of Chudenice. About 300 metres from the hunting lodge, beside the blue hiking trail southeast towards the settlement of Smrk, is the Stone of Saint Hubert. It is surrounded by a distinctive aura and marked by a notable bowl-shaped hollow. The approximate distance and direction indicate the stone’s location in relation to the hunting lodge. Conditions on the hiking trail may change, so check them before setting out.
Discover more destinations: Příčina, Senomaty, Jesenice U Rakovníka, Kounov, Nesuchyně, Zbečno, Luzna U Rakovnika, Skryje.
For the broader travel overview: Okres Rakovník.
