In Chanovice, a clear sequence of historic buildings leads to themes of the landscape and rural life: the Baroque château is surrounded by a park, the Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross stands beside it, and a nature trail leads from the château grounds to the open-air museum. You can plan your visit around whether you want to focus first on the architecture, the trail or historic ways of life.

Château and Church: Two Historic Layers

Chanovice Château is a Baroque building; a Gothic fortress originally stood on its site. The Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, a Baroque building dating from 1751 to 1764, is next to the château. It preserves some elements of the former Gothic sanctuary. The building history is thus reflected in different ways: at the château, the transition from a Gothic fortress to a Baroque château takes centre stage, while the church combines Baroque design with surviving parts of the former sanctuary.

Nature Trail Through the Park and Landscape

The “Příroda a lesy Pošumaví” nature trail begins at the Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross on the château grounds. It runs through the park over Chlum Hill to the folk architecture exhibition, the Chanovice Open-Air Museum. The route is 2.2 kilometres long, intended for pedestrians and can be walked in either direction. Its nine stops cover notable plants and animals, as well as the geological features of the surrounding area. You can therefore choose the route for its nature themes or for its destination at the open-air museum. The 31-metre-high observation tower on the trail offers views across the Šumava region, from Český les to Českokrumlovsko, as well as over Blatensko and Brdy. As trail conditions can change, check them before setting out.

Folk Architecture and Rural Life

At the Chanovice Open-Air Museum, you can see historic forms of village housing, agriculture, domestic production and crafts. The period covered runs from the second half of the 18th century to the first half of the 20th century. The museum is also a preservation project for endangered folk architecture in South Bohemia. If you are particularly interested in historic ways of life and work, the museum offers a different focus from the nature trail: the trail centres on the area’s plants, animals and geology, while the museum focuses on rural living and working.

Events and Visit Planning

The events also offer different highlights. The annual Den řemesel showcases traditional crafts. Held in autumn, Den tradiční potraviny is a regional festival. If you would like to plan your trip around an event, check the dates in advance.

Outside regular opening hours, groups of ten or more can visit the open-air museum by prior arrangement. Arrange such a visit in advance, as seasonal rules may change.

Discover more destinations: Strážov, Čachrov, Tužice, Zavlekov, Hnacov, Švihov U Klatov, Chudenín, Předslav

For the broader travel overview: Okres Klatovy.