Chotěboř can be explored through two very different aspects: a clearly defined urban conservation area and the natural landscape of the nearby Doubrava Valley. In the town, a long, straight street is the most prominent feature of the conservation area; at its centre, it opens out into a regular rectangular square. This layout gives the town’s history a tangible spatial context. Individual buildings also reveal different historical and architectural perspectives.

City History Between the Conservation Area and the Chateau

Chotěboř was granted the status of a royal town in 1331, after receiving the rights of the town of Jihlava. A Romanesque chapel once stood on the site of today’s Church of St James the Greater; its origins date back to the town’s foundation. Here, the town’s specific historical development intersects with the history of a sacred site. The urban conservation area also includes a cemetery and the Church of St James. Another notable cemetery arrangement is the Jewish cemetery, which is surrounded by a Catholic cemetery.

Chotěboř Baroque Chateau was built in 1701–1702 and is not open to the public. As public access status may change, check local information before planning a visit.

Museum and Distinctive Architectural Styles

The Chotěboř Town Museum has a permanent exhibition on the Doubrava Valley, geology and the town’s history. A visit takes 45 minutes, making it easy to plan as a separate, time-limited activity. Check the current exhibition arrangements in advance if you want to make a firm plan to visit.

Two chapels illustrate different architectural styles and periods of construction. The Chapel of the Elevation of the Holy Cross in Václav Fiala Park is a Pseudo-Romanesque and Pseudo-Gothic building. It was built in 1863 to plans by František Schmoranz. On the eastern edge of the town stands St Anne’s Chapel, built in 1902 on the site of an earlier, smaller chapel, to a design by František Kruml and in a Romanticising style. Architecture enthusiasts can compare these two specific examples, with their different stylistic descriptions and construction dates.

Pop Culture and Nature Around Chotěboř

Contemporary culture is also part of what the town has to offer. The Fantazie Festival has been a traditional pop culture festival since 1996. Its programme includes science fiction, fantasy and horror, games, film screenings, competitions, workshops, lectures, exhibitions and concerts. If you are planning a trip around the festival, check the dates for your chosen travel year.

As a contrast to the historic buildings, the Údolí řeky Doubravy Nature Reserve lies near Chotěboř. The area is characterised by a canyon-like, wooded valley and a riverbed with boulders and rapids. This gives you a choice of different focuses when planning your trip: town history and architecture on one hand, and a striking river landscape on the other. These landscape features give the nature reserve its own character, without equating it with the sights in the town.

Discover more destinations:

Úsobí, Zvěstovice, Štoky, Michalovice, Jitkov, Kyjov, Krátká Ves, Tis

For the wider travel overview: Havlíčkův Brod District.