The large rectangular village green gives the historic village centre of Holasovice its spatial layout, with the farm complex clustered around it. Holasovice has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1998. The UNESCO complex includes 23 listed farmsteads with a total of 120 buildings—an ensemble whose character cannot be reduced to a single building.
The Village Green and South Bohemian Folk Baroque
The surviving buildings were shaped by alterations made in the 19th century. Their forms belong to what is known as South Bohemian Folk Baroque; finely stuccoed façades are a distinctive detail of the village’s appearance. If you are interested in architecture, look out for both the design of the individual façades and the arrangement of the farmsteads around the rectangular village green. This brings together architectural details and the wider context of the World Heritage ensemble.
The Chapel and Historic Forge
On the north side of the village green stands a chapel dedicated to Saint John of Nepomuk. Set into its rear wall, close to the ground and to the left of the altar mensa, is a stone plaque bearing an authentic founding inscription that has been preserved. The building’s history is also part of the story: Bartoloměj and Josef Pimiskorn had the chapel built at their own expense. Its location, dedication and inscription offer different ways to appreciate the building—from its position on the village green to its recorded origins.
Another historic trace leads to the forge. The historic forge in Holasovice is documented in a written reference dating from 1713. In 2018, it was renovated to restore its original appearance and purpose. The 18th-century reference and the renovation’s stated aim belong to different periods in its history.
Walking Tours, Stone Circle and Crafts
Guided walking tours cover the village’s history, local architecture, everyday life past and present, customs and traditional crafts. They bring together several themes that also relate to the architectural ensemble and the history of the forge. Check before your trip whether a tour is available. The Holasovice Stone Circle is a separate attraction and a modern replica of megalithic structures in Bohemia. It consists of 25 large stones, including a central stone called a menhir. Its classification as a replica distinguishes it from a historic megalithic structure.
The Selské slavnosti takes place every year on the penultimate weekend of July; the exact date varies from year to year. The festival features demonstrations of more than 230 traditional and non-traditional crafts from Bohemia, Moravia and Slovakia. The programme and number of participants may vary. If your main interest is the village’s history and architecture, consider a guided walking tour; if you want to see craft demonstrations, check the festival dates. Before your trip, check the specific festival dates and whether a tour is available.
Dining by the Village Green
The Holasovice inn is located on the west side of the village green, in farmstead No. 18, and welcomes visitors for lunch or dinner. Together with the chapel on the north side, it is situated on a specific side of the rectangular square. If you plan to eat there, check the opening arrangements in advance.
Discover more destinations: Branischen, Nákří, Lipí, Čenkow, Mladošovice, Jivno, Hartmanitz, Slavče.
Return to the overview of the region: Okres České Budějovice.
