Chrast offers several concrete starting points for exploring: castle history, the town museum with a model of the Codex Gigas, churches with historical dates, and the Chrastecka Nature Trail. These topics also differ in form: the history of the castle and churches leads to individual cultural points of interest, while the nature trail offers a longer route. This lets you choose the focus of your stay according to your interests.
Castle, Museum and Concerts
The castle was formerly the seat and later the summer residence of the bishops of Hradec Králové. The castle building houses the Chrast Town Museum and the town hall. Vincenc Paulus founded the museum in 1893; its permanent exhibition includes a model of the Codex Gigas made for an exhibition in Prague. The former castle chapel, with its original wall paintings, serves as the museum’s concert hall and is used for concerts. The castle thus brings together its former episcopal function, the history of the museum and a cultural use. Visitors interested in history, exhibitions or concerts will find different points of interest here.
Churches and Historical Dates
The Church of the Holy Trinity stands in the middle of Chrast’s town square. Two further dates are recorded for St. Martin’s Church in Chrast: the first references to it date from 1350, and it was consecrated on 3 August 1721. The reference and the consecration mark different events, not a single construction date. Those interested in church and town history can distinguish the Holy Trinity Church’s place in the townscape from the historical dates associated with St. Martin’s.
Castle Garden and Water Tower
Chrast Castle Garden was laid out in the mid-19th century by Bishop Karel Hanl. In 1903, Prague architect Thomayer redesigned it as a park. The two dates mark different stages: first the garden’s creation, then its later redesign. A description updated in 2023 states that the castle garden is open to the public year-round; check the access conditions before your visit.
An old water tower stands in Chrašice. It was built to supply the episcopal castle in Chrast with utility water. Bishop Matouš Ferdinand of Bilenberg had the water pipeline built in 1662. After its reconstruction, the tower was opened to the public on 19 September 2012. If you are planning a visit today, check current access arrangements separately.
The Chrastecka Nature Trail
The Chrastecka Nature Trail connects the ČD railway station in Chrast with the ČD railway station in Vrbatův Kostelec. It is 12.47 kilometers long in total; the Žejbro River runs alongside almost the entire route and flows through Chrast. This provides clear reference points for planning: two named endpoints, a stated route length and a river that accompanies the route almost throughout. If you are planning a longer route, you can weigh these features against a focus on the museum, castle and churches.
Discover more destinations: Orel, Předhradí, Bousov, Bítovany, Kamenicky, Načešice, Prosetín, Přestavlky
For the broader travel overview: Chrudim District.
