In Plasy, architectural history takes many forms: on a tour of the Metternich family crypt, in the Baroque granary and on the grounds of a former brewery. There is also a nature trail covering nature and history, a construction play area and animal feeding sessions at the zoo. When choosing what to do, the subject is not the only consideration; the type of visit matters too: a guided tour, a themed trail or hands-on activities.

Monastery and architectural history

The tour of the Metternich family crypt takes visitors primarily to the family burial vault and also provides information about St. Wenceslas Church and the Metternich family. The tour’s availability may vary by season; check whether it is offered on your visit date before making plans.

The granary in Plasy is open to visitors as part of one of the tours run by the Plasy Monastery administration. The Baroque building includes a two-storey Early Gothic chapel dedicated to St. Wenceslas and St. Mary Magdalene. The granary also has a 47-metre-high tower with a monumental Baroque clockwork mechanism dating from 1686. The chapel and clockwork mechanism offer a different focus from the tour, which leads primarily to the family burial vault.

The National Technical Museum’s permanent exhibition on construction in Plasy takes visitors through the entire site of the former brewery. This means that the exhibition route is not limited to a single building: the grounds of the former brewery provide its setting. Its focus thus differs from looking at individual details in the granary or visiting the family burial vault.

Nature trail and hands-on activities

The Naučná stezka Plasy nature trail is 3.25 kilometres long and has nine information panels. It covers natural and historical features. The trail therefore combines a set route with two subject areas: nature and history. The figures give you an idea of the trail’s length, while the panels provide more detail on its topics.

The nature trail has a workbook with a route map, descriptions of the information panels, multiple-choice questions and additional activities for children. The map and panel descriptions complement each other; the questions and activities offer another way to engage with the trail’s topics.

At the National Technical Museum’s construction play area, visitors of all ages can use wooden blocks to try out their own designs. A model of Plasy Monastery also lets visitors recreate different historical stages in the site’s development. Unlike the panels and workbook, the focus here is on building for yourself; the model also brings the site’s development into the picture.

Further visitor information

At Plasy Zoo, visitors can feed raccoons, coatis and lemurs. The offer may change; check before your visit whether feeding sessions are available on your date.

There is free parking for cars and buses directly in front of the ticket office at Plasy Monastery. When choosing your visits, you can consider the different areas of interest: architectural history, nature and history on the nature trail, building for yourself or animal feeding sessions.

Discover more destinations: Ostrov U Bezdružic, Mladotice, Pernarec, Loza, Úherce, Nečtiny, Líně, Třemošná

For the broader travel overview: Plzeň-Sever District.