Churches, a museum dedicated to the veneration of Saint John of Nepomuk, and trails of varying lengths give a stay in Nepomuk a range of cultural focuses. The visiting arrangements make the choices particularly clear: the nave of one church is freely accessible during visiting hours, while a full tour must be arranged in advance. The routes also differ in length and destination.

Churches and the Cult of John of Nepomuk

The Church of Saint John of Nepomuk stands on the site where, according to tradition, the saint’s birthplace once stood. Built in 1734, the Baroque structure was designed by Kilián Ignác Dientzenhofer. The Svatojánské Museum offers another way to explore the subject: its collection includes works of art and devotional objects from the 18th to the 20th century and documents the diversity and richness of the cult of Saint John of Nepomuk. The architecture and collection thus illuminate different aspects of the same religious theme.

The nave of the Church of Saint John of Nepomuk is freely accessible during visiting hours. A full tour of the church must be arranged in advance with the parish priest or the sacristan. The Church of Saint James the Greater offers a different architectural accent: this fortified Gothic basilica features Romanesque relics and a Baroque bell tower. It is accessible during services and cultural events, or by arrangement through the Svatojánské Museum. Visitors planning to see both churches can take these different visiting arrangements into account.

Art, Exhibitions and a Concert Hall

The birthplace of the painter Augustin Němejc is a house dating from the early 19th century. The artist was born here; today, a permanent public exhibition of his works is on display. The connection between the building and the exhibition gives the visit a direct link to the painter’s home, while his works remain the focus of the display.

Another cultural venue is Atrium Piarum, a concert hall with a grand piano in the heart of Nepomuk. Pivovar a Beer Spa Zlatá Kráva offers a different focus: its old brewery cellars house private beer baths as well as a wellness area. Alongside churches and exhibitions, visitors can therefore choose a concert hall or a wellness experience to suit their interests.

Comparing the Educational Trail and the Stations of the Cross

The Pod Zelenou horou educational trail starts in the upper part of Nepomuk’s square. It is just under 4.5 kilometres long and has nine stops with information panels. The route is suitable for walkers, cyclists and families with children; it is also accessible with a stroller. One stop leads to a permanent exhibition of historical technology in the former stables of the old Zelenohorská pošta. This post office is the second stop on the educational trail, making the exhibition easy to include along the route.

A shorter route is the Stations of the Cross up Lipový vrch, also locally known as Lipák or Šibenice. The approximately 800-metre-long path runs from the local cemetery to the former execution site on Lipový vrch and was created in 2021. Compared with the educational trail, which is just under 4.5 kilometres long, it is considerably shorter; the routes also differ in their destinations. The Stations of the Cross lead to a site of historical significance, while the educational trail has nine stops.

There is also a named themed route for cyclists: a large section of the “Nepomuckou vrchovinou za starými kostely” route runs through Kákov-Plánický hřeben Nature Park. This information applies to a large section of the route, not its entire length. Visitors can therefore choose according to their interests: church architecture and art, the educational trail and its stops, the shorter Stations of the Cross, or a cycling route that passes through the nature park mentioned above.

Discover more destinations: Klášter, Únětice U Blovic, Mladý Smolivec, Míšov, Žákava, Nezdřev, Měcholupy U Blovic, Chotěšov.

For the wider travel overview: Plzeň-Jih.