Hošťka’s village square, almost 800 metres long, reveals the elongated layout of a street village. Continuous rows of former agricultural farmsteads line both sides of the square; several ponds shape it, and the Church of St Margaret dominates the village scene. The settlement layout, ponds and buildings offer different clues to help you get to know the place.
Border history and former livelihoods
Hošťka was first mentioned in 1482 under the name Hosskowo. It was one of the most populous places in the Přimda Choden region. In the mid-16th century, residents guarded a section of the border as far as Vranči Pond; an imperial customs post operated in Hošťka until 1613. In 1621, fierce fighting took place in the immediate vicinity between imperial and Swedish troops. The dates mark different chapters: the first mention, the border duty, the customs post and the fighting.
In 1887, a major fire destroyed a total of 55 farmsteads. For 1930, records note that, alongside agriculture, people made a living from woodturning and working with mother-of-pearl. These details complement the political history of the border with insights into the lives and work of the residents.
Church architecture and services
A chapel dedicated to St Margaret is documented as early as 1707; in 1744, it was converted into a small church. In 1889, the church was enlarged with a façade and tower. The Church of St Markéta is single-nave and has a rectangular floor plan. Its presbytery is polygonal on the outside and nearly semicircular on the inside. The contrast between its exterior and interior forms is a distinctive architectural feature of the building. Original furnishings by the woodcarver Artschlag have also been preserved in the church.
Services are held at the Church of St Markéta every Sunday throughout the year at 11 a.m. If you would like to include this in your travel plans, check the time in advance, as service times may change.
Cycle Route 36 and the surrounding landscape
Cycle Route 36 runs for 287 kilometres from Všeruby to Měděnec, passing through Hošťka, and is considered the main long-distance cycle route through Český les. This is the length of the entire route, not a distance within the village. If you plan to ride the route, check its current course before setting off, as routes may change. This gives you a choice of focus when planning your trip: Hošťka can be part of a longer cycling route, or you can focus mainly on its village square, church architecture and local history.
Part of Hošťka’s municipal area lies within the Český les Protected Landscape Area. Across the wider landscape, extensive forests form a mosaic with pastures, meadows and fallow land that is gradually becoming overgrown again. Hošťka is also in an area with a forestry, agricultural and recreational character. The landscape and its uses thus offer another perspective on the area, complementing the built-up village centre.
Discover more destinations: Lesná, Únehle, Konstantinovy Lázne, Lom U Tachova, Chodová Planá, Písařova Vesce, Kladruby U Stříbra, Planá U Mariánských Lázní
For the broader travel overview: Okres Tachov.
