Svojšín brings together a castle with a clearly dated history, church architecture and paths through the Mže Valley landscape. Several themes can therefore shape your trip planning: historic buildings, two round trips of three kilometres each starting at the castle, and the river landscape, which may also be suitable for boating in spring.
Castle, Church and Historic Sites
Svojšín Castle was built in 1723 under Count Jan Václav Příchovský, on the site of an older building. The two-storey building has a passageway accessed through a stone portal. Leather wall coverings and Baroque marble fireplaces have been preserved there. Two ornamental gardens adjoin the castle. The building’s history and interior details offer several distinct aspects to explore when learning about the castle.
The Church of Saints Peter and Paul is dated to the mid-12th century based on its masonry, which features large sandstone blocks. It is one of the most significant monuments of its kind in southwestern Bohemia. Alongside the castle’s history, this much older building is therefore a key part of the town’s history.
The Chapel of St. Nicholas is located by the railway station. From 2017 to 2023, it was restored at its original location and in its original form, using surviving photographs as a reference. The restoration connects the chapel’s present-day setting with its former appearance without reducing the building’s history to a single year.
The Jewish Cemetery in Řebří is located in the wider area around Svojšín. It was declared a cultural monument in 2007. To this day, 143 gravestones remain there, including one dating from 1742. The cemetery adds a distinct place of remembrance in Řebří to Svojšín’s historic buildings.
Paths Starting at the Castle
The “Skalní defilé” educational trail is a three-kilometre round trip starting at Svojšín Castle. At the end, there is a view of the Svojšín Basin and the meanders of the Mže. The route and the view go together here: the path leads to a specific landscape vista rather than simply describing a distance.
Another three-kilometre round trip leads from the castle to the viewpoint on Tannenberg. The viewpoint is at a cross marking the site of a former forest chapel. The route initially follows a red-marked hiking trail, then a green-marked one. Both routes have the same stated total length, but different destinations: at the end of the “Skalní defilé” educational trail, the basin and river bends are in view, while the other route leads to the viewpoint at the cross. Check the route details again before setting out.
The Mže Valley and Seasonal River Trip
Svojšín lies in the Mže Valley. There, the river has cut into predominantly wooded hill country; in the lowlands, meadows rich in flora and fauna line its banks. Wooded slopes and open meadows thus meet in the same landscape.
In spring, the Mže can be navigated from Pavlovice to Svojšín and, potentially, onwards to Stříbro. This is a seasonal option: check river conditions before planning your trip. This makes for a clear distinction between the walking routes described here and the possibility of travelling on the river at a particular time of year.
Arriving by Train
Svojšín railway station has step-free access to the station building or passenger shelter, as well as to all platforms. If step-free access is important for your plans, check the information again before travelling. The station is on line 178 between Plzeň and Cheb, and line 186 between Svojšín and Bor. The line details help you locate the station within the railway network; plan specific journey times using the current timetable.
When choosing where to stay, consider whether your trip is primarily about the castle and its history, the two routes of equal length, or the seasonal opportunity on the Mže. These options differ in their focus and seasonal availability, so you can weigh them according to your travel plans.
Discover more destinations: Kostelec U Stříbra, Dubec, Lestkov, Vranov U Stříbra, Prostiboř, Planá U Mariánských Lázní, Rozvadov, Kočov.
For the broader travel overview: Okres Tachov.
