Holovousy brings together the history of its castle and village with an apple tradition dating back to the 18th century. This gives you two specific themes to explore as you plan your visit: historical traces ranging from the Slavic hillfort to the Renaissance castle, and the history of the Holovouské malinové variety and the autumn festival.

Castle history and historical traces

Holovousy Castle originated as a fortress first mentioned in writing in 1433. Around 1594, it was converted into a Renaissance castle. A much older historical trace lies in the castle’s game park: a Slavic hillfort from the first half of the 9th century, listed in the state register of immovable cultural monuments. The hillfort dates back significantly further than the written mention of the fortress and its later conversion.

The protected Holovouská lípa (Holovousy lime tree) stands on the road between Holovousy and Chodovice. Its trunk circumference is 4.15 metres. Alongside the historic buildings and traces, this adds a protected tree with a precisely stated measurement.

The Holovousova Trail

The Holovousova Trail passes through places in Holovousy and Chodovice associated with local legends and historical sights. One stop is the village square in Holovousy. Historical apple and pear varieties are planted there, including Holovouské malinové. The castle is also one of the stops; from there, the trail continues to Chodovice. In this way, the legends, village square, and castle share a common theme, while each stop offers its own connection to local history.

Holovouské malinové and the autumn festival

Holovouské malinové is a historic apple variety. Its history dates back to the 18th century and is associated with French families who came to the estate at Holovousy. The variety is no longer widely grown today and is now found only as a standard tree. Its story thus links a long look back in time with a specific, now-rare form of cultivation.

The Slavnosti holovouských malináčů (Holovousy Raspberry Apple Festival) takes place on the first Saturday in October. The festival was established as an annual event and is a regular fixture in the autumn events calendar in Holovousy and the wider region. Since the first edition, competitions have been held each year to find the tastiest malináč apple and the best apple pie. If you plan to travel for the festival, check the date of that year’s event.

A sales outlet for the Výzkumný a šlechtitelský ústav ovocnářský Holovousy (Holovousy Research and Breeding Institute of Pomology) is located directly in the warehouse building on the institute grounds. The selection is seasonal and may change.

The Church of St. Bartholomew in Chodovice

The Church of St. Bartholomew in Chodovice is a single-nave building with a pentagonal presbytery. Its massive square tower is topped by an onion dome with a lantern and onion finial. The entrance bears the date “Anno 1756”. The tombstones of Václav Karlík and Jan Karlík of Nežetice are set into the exterior wall. The building’s design, date, and tombstones offer distinct architectural and historical points of interest.

The church also serves as a venue for concerts, exhibitions, religious services, weddings, and theatrical performances. The programme may vary; if you plan to travel for an event, check the specific dates.

Discover more destinations: Libošovice, Údrnice, Úlibice, Brdy, Valdice, Cerekvice Nad Bystřicí, Sedliště, Bašnice

For the broader travel overview: Okres Jičín.