Kočov’s cultural history is reflected in a Baroque pilgrimage church ruin, a simple municipal bell tower and recurring community events. It also includes an archaeological classification of the historic village area and the Mže 6 fishing grounds designated for 2025 and 2026. If you are looking for a holiday apartment for a stay in Kočov, these different themes can help you choose your focus: sacred architectural history, village traditions or fishing. When choosing your travel dates, bear in mind that the community celebrations take place every year, but their individual dates vary.
The church ruin: pilgrimage and film history
The ruin of the Baroque pilgrimage Church of St. John the Baptist lies south of Kočov in the Tachov region. It has been protected as a cultural monument of the Czech Republic since 1992. In 2000, the ruin was transformed into the “Cave of Hell” and used as a setting for director Zdeněk Troška’s film Z pekla štěstí 2. The Baroque pilgrimage church and its later transformation for the film thus represent two distinct chapters from different periods: the year 2000 refers to the film set, not to the church’s construction.
The Zvonička on the village square
The Zvonička on Kočov’s village square is a simple municipal bell tower. Two wooden posts support a pyramidal roof covered with wooden shingles, with the bell hanging beneath it. It is a valuable small example of village furnishings from the second half of the 19th century. The Zvonička thus complements the pilgrimage church ruin with a different kind of historical landmark: a simple municipal bell tower.
Archaeological classification
Kočov’s historic intravilán, or historic village area, is classified as a significant archaeological site in category ÚAN I. The site is associated with the Late Middle Ages and the Modern period. In addition, the site of Kočov’s fortress is designated as a currently protected archaeological feature. These represent two distinct aspects: the site’s chronological classification and the protection status of the fortress site.
Community celebrations throughout the year
The municipality of Kočov holds numerous events for children and adults every year. The annual program includes children’s days, a masked ball and Masopust, as well as a May Day procession, the burning of the witches, a lantern procession and a kite festival. The individual dates vary. If you are planning to travel for a particular celebration, check its date in advance.
Mže 6 fishing grounds: period and extent
For anglers, the Mže 6 fishing grounds are a separate point of interest: for 2025 and 2026, they are listed as 16 km long and covering an area of 16 ha. They extend from the weir at Šturanický Mlýn mill in the cadastral area of Ošelín to the weir near the settlement of Ústí, close to the municipality of Kočov. Length and area are different measures of the fishing grounds; the specified weirs mark their endpoints. If this area matters to your plans, check the information applicable to your year of visit.
Discover more destinations: Benešovice, Milíře, Lesná, Rozvadov, Chodová Planá, Dlouhý Újezd, Kříženec, Kokašice
For the higher-level travel overview: Tachov District.
