Discover Sedlčany: Culture and the Starry Sky

Sedlčany combines local history and musical connections with nighttime skywatching, events, and opportunities to get active. If you are planning a stay, you can choose from a permanent exhibition about the region, historic churches, recurring festivals, and a waymarked hiking trail. The specific subjects and dates can help you tailor your travel days to your interests.

Local History in the Museum and Churches

The Městské muzeum Sedlčany (Sedlčany Town Museum) dedicates its permanent exhibition to the Sedlčany region. It takes visitors from prehistory through the Middle Ages and early modern period to the present day. Exhibits include archaeological finds from the Bronze Age, the Iron Age, and the Celtic oppidum of Hrazany. The exhibition concludes with a memorial dedicated to the life and work of composer Josef Suk. The Stará radnice (Old Town Hall) now houses the town museum.

The churches also offer insight into different periods of architecture. Kostel sv. Martina (Church of St. Martin) is an Early Gothic parish church from the third quarter of the 13th century, built by the Milevsko monastery’s construction workshop. It was first mentioned in writing on February 1, 1364. Its Baroque furnishings include an altar from 1704, to which a painting by J. Umlauf was later added.

Kostel Nanebevzetí Panny Marie (Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary), also known as Církvička, is a Baroque cemetery church. It was built in 1732–1734 on the site of an older Gothic chapel. Církvička stands on a hill on the north side of Sedlčany. Together, the two churches illustrate different historical and architectural influences: an Early Gothic parish church and a Baroque cemetery church.

Observatory and Music Events

The Hvězdárna Josefa Sadila Sedlčany (Josef Sadil Observatory in Sedlčany) offers public nighttime skywatching every Saturday. During direct observations through the large telescope, projected images supplement the objects being viewed. Explanations and discussions cover various areas and topics in astronomy. If you plan to attend, check the current observation schedule before your trip.

Music also features prominently in the town’s events calendar. The tradition of the historic ROSA festival was revived in 1990; since 1994, ROSA has been held regularly in June as a town festival. The international Sukovy Sedlčany music festival is also held annually. Its dates and program vary from year to year. If a particular concert or festival is central to your trip, plan around that year’s edition.

Routes and Outdoor Activities

The Sportovní areál Luční (Luční Sports Complex) has a 560-meter-long route for inline skating and cycling. It also features climbing structures and a pyramid for younger visitors, as well as parkour obstacles and an outdoor gym for teenagers and adults. As the facilities may change, check what is currently available before your visit.

For a longer outing, the waymarked Suk Walking Trail runs from Sedlčany to Křečovice. The route is 11 km long and passes through the valley of the Mastník stream to Josef Suk’s birthplace; it also leads to the Drahoušek observation tower. This clearly measured route can be compared with the shorter activities at the Sportovní areál Luční, without treating the different activities as equivalent.

When looking for a hotel in Sedlčany, you can start by deciding what brings you there: a June visit for ROSA, a Saturday observation, the music festival, or the 11-km hike each calls for a different travel plan. Check the relevant event dates before setting your travel dates.

Discover more destinations: Kňovice, Vysoká U Příbramě, Petrovice, Hudčice, Rozmital Pod Tremsinem, Smolotely, Lhota U Příbramě, Rybníky.

For the broader travel overview: Okres Příbram.