Brod Nad Tichou brings together a long local history with tangible architectural features and traces in the landscape. The Church of St James the Greater combines Gothic and Baroque architecture; early names for the settlement range from a parish village to a market town with a parish church and fortress. For a stay focused on culture, the town offers several historical perspectives.
Local History Along the Tichá
Brod Nad Tichou developed at a crossing of the Tichá, also called Hamerský potok, on the historic north–south route between Planá and Bor. The settlement was first mentioned in 1243 as a parish village. In 1379, Brod was named as a market town with a parish church and fortress. These early dates reflect different aspects of the town’s history: its designation as a parish village and, later, its mention as a market town with ecclesiastical and fortified features.
Gothic and Baroque Building Phases
The Church of St James the Greater has a Gothic chancel and Gothic sacristy. Its nave was completed in its present Baroque form in 1683. The chancel is the oldest surviving part of the church and was rebuilt at the end of the 15th century or beginning of the 16th century. This history makes it possible to distinguish between the Gothic elements and the later Baroque form of the nave.
The church stands on a hill with a cemetery, buildings of the former rectory, and traces of a vanished castle. On the eastern side of Brod Nad Tichou, the complex forms a distinctive silhouette and is considered a prominent landscape feature of West Bohemia. Beside the bridge stands a Baroque statue of St John of Nepomuk dating from 1738; it has been protected as a cultural monument since 1958.
The site of the former fortress is another historical trace of the town. Poorly discernible remains of a ditch and rampart, along with other irregularities in the ground, have survived there. Together with the fortress mentioned in 1379, these landscape features offer another point of reference for the town’s fortified history.
Pilgrimage and Masopust
The Svatojakubská pouť (St James’s pilgrimage festival) took place in Brod Nad Tichou from 18 to 20 July 2025. On 24 June 2026, the municipality announced another edition planned for 2026; dates may change. If you would like to plan your stay around the pilgrimage festival, check the exact dates in advance.
Another specific example of local festivities is the traditional Masopust celebration on 1 March 2025. The masked gathering began at 1:30 p.m. in front of the municipal office, and the event started at 2 p.m. These details refer to the 2025 celebration and do not indicate that it will be repeated on another date.
Getting There and Finding Accommodation
Residents of Brod Nad Tichou use rail and bus connections. If you are planning to travel by public transport, check the current timetables in advance.
Discover more destinations: MilĂĹ™e, OšelĂn, KĹ™ĂĹľenec, Konstantinovy Lázne, Hošťka, Planá U MariánskĂ˝ch LáznĂ, Kšice, StarĂ© SedlištÄ›.
Return to the main travel overview: Okres Tachov.
