Velké Popovice brings together the history of its brewery and the landscape of the Velkopopovicko Nature Park. A 10 km circular route leads to chapels and bell towers in the local districts; a cycling route between Pyšely and Dobřejovice also crosses the edge of the area. The different route types give you concrete options for balancing local history, nature and activity during your stay.
Brewery History and Local Culture
The Velké Popovice brewery was founded in 1874. Its historic section is designated a national cultural monument. The Church of Our Lady of the Snows has a bell dating from 1498, considered the second-oldest in Central Bohemia. The two dates refer to different things: 1498 dates the bell, while 1874 marks the founding of the brewery. The heritage designation applies to the historic section of the brewery, while the regional age ranking refers to the bell. This places the history of the brewery and the individual church object alongside one another as distinct themes of local culture.
Getting to the Visitor Centre
To reach the Velkopopovický Kozel Brewery Visitor Centre, take the S9 train line to Strančice; from there, continue by connecting bus 461 to Velké Popovice. The journey from central Prague takes approximately 45 minutes. Check the timetable for your travel date before setting out, as transport connections may change.
Velkopopovicko Nature Park
The Velkopopovicko Nature Park covers 22 km² and was designated in 1993 to preserve the character of the landscape and its distinctive natural and aesthetic values. The predominant land types include forests, meadows, pastures, fallow land, rubble areas, wetlands and bodies of water. The area is used for recreation and sport. The designation describes the purpose of preservation; recreation and sport represent another aspect of the area. To the north, Ringhoferova and Pivovarská streets, followed by Masarykova Street in Velké Popovice, form the park boundary. These street names provide a specific geographical reference for the northern edge.
Circular Route and Cycling Route
The “Kapličky a zvoničky Velkopopovicka” circular route passes through the cadastral area of Velké Popovice and runs mainly through its local districts. In each district, you can stop at a chapel or bell tower. The loop is 10 km long and mostly follows paved paths. It therefore combines a specified distance with local cultural points in several districts.
Cycling route 0028 crosses the edge of Velké Popovice; the 18 km route runs from Pyšely to Dobřejovice. Compared with the circular route, it is a longer connection between two named places, while the loop passes through the cadastral area and mainly through the local districts. When weighing up the routes, they differ both in length and in form: a connection between two places, or a loop with possible stops at chapels and bell towers.
Discover more destinations: Herink, Svémyslice, Březí U Říčan, Mochov, Nová Ves, Panenské Břežany, Kostelec U Křížků, Stirin.
For the broader travel overview: Okres Praha-Východ.
