Mnichov lies in the southern part of Český les, in the valley of the Pivoňka stream, 2 km southwest of the town of Poběžovice. The Český les Nature Park extends into the municipality. Its cultural history includes the chapel on the village square, the former Augustinian monastery in Pivoň and the ruins of Starý Herštejn Castle.
Landscape and cycling connection
The Pivoňka flows from south to northeast through Mnichov towards Poběžovice. North of the village, the Mlýnský potok, a tributary of the Pivoňka, flows through the area. The two waterways therefore occupy different positions in the landscape: the Pivoňka runs through Mnichov, while the Mlýnský potok lies to the north.
The terrain also rises differently depending on the direction. Southeast of Mnichov, a steep ascent leads to Čertovka, which is 607 m high. To the west, the terrain rises more gradually to the 595 m-high U lesíka, part of the Pivoňské hory. The elevations differ by 12 m; the ascents also differ considerably in steepness.
A specific cycling connection through the village is cycle route 2281, which is 31 km long. It connects Nemanice with Bělá nad Radbuzou and passes through Mnichov. The route’s length and endpoints provide a regional frame of reference, while the local sections form part of this connection.
Chapel and monastery history
The Chapel of the Holy Trinity, built in 1728, stands on the village square. The first written mention of the village of Mnichov dates from 1550. The two dates refer to different aspects of the village’s history: an early written reference to the village and the construction of a specific building more than a century and a half later.
The former Augustinian monastery is located in the municipality of Mnichov, in the village of Pivoň and in the cadastral area of the same name. It was founded in the 13th century and is a national cultural monument. It acquired its present appearance through a High Baroque renovation after the monastery was dissolved and converted into a château. Its foundation and present appearance therefore belong to different historical periods.
A distinctive feature of the monastery’s architectural history is the early Gothic presbytery of its church. It is considered the oldest known purely Gothic building in Czechia that is entirely free of Romanesque elements. This designation applies specifically to the presbytery and describes its significance in architectural history.
The monastery is currently closed to the public for renovation work. Check access before travelling, as the renovation status may change.
Ruins of Starý Herštejn Castle
The ruins of Starý Herštejn Castle are in the cadastral area of Vranov u Mnichova, about 2 km southwest of the village of Mnichov. The castle was probably founded before 1266 and fell into ruin at the beginning of the 16th century. Its foundation is explicitly considered probable, while its decline is dated to the beginning of the 16th century. Along with the chapel and the monastery, the ruins add to the municipality’s varied historical and architectural traces.
Discover more destinations: Nová Ves U Kdyně, Kvíčovice, Semněvice, Puclice, Chodská Lhota, Kanice, Pelechy, Karlova Hut
For the wider travel overview: Okres Domažlice.
