Discover Zvikovec: Church, History and Routes

Zvikovec brings together sacred architecture, local history and routes. At its heart is the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary (Kostel Nanebevzetí Panny Marie), considered the town’s most important architectural and cultural landmark. Other highlights include a historic rectory, a castle with its own building history, a bridge over the Berounka, the Way of St. James and a riding trail. When planning your stay, you can explore these themes as different ways of experiencing the town: the church and rectory tell of religious and cultural life, while the two routes represent different ways to travel.

Church and Local History

The church was built in the mid-14th century; it has been mentioned as a parish church with its own priest since 1350. It was remodelled in the Baroque style in 1767. Its early religious function and a later architectural change are thus reflected side by side. A Baroque stone statue of St Francis Xavier, dating from 1733, stands near the church. It was reconstructed in 1854 and restored in 2004. Jan Hus very likely preached in the church in the summer of 1414 while staying at nearby Krakovec Castle.

Rectory and Castle

The Baroque rectory lies west of the church and was originally a farmstead. František Kinský acquired the building that later became the rectory in 1769 for parish use, when the independent parish was re-established. Václav Krolmus lived in the Baroque rectory from 1832 to 1843. He is regarded as a founder of Czech archaeology and a collector of folk traditions and customs. His time there connects the history of the house with archaeology and folk traditions.

Zvíkovec Castle was built in 1735 on the site of an earlier fortress. At the end of the 18th century, it was extended and remodelled into its present form: a two-storey building with two wings forming an obtuse angle. An obtuse angle is greater than a right angle, so the wings do not meet at a right angle. The castle is currently abandoned and closed to the public.

The history of infrastructure is also part of the region’s character: the bridge over the Berounka was ceremonially opened in 1930 and connects the Rakovník District, the northern Plzeň area and the Rokycany District. Thus, alongside the religious buildings, a link between these three regions stands as a historical point of interest in its own right.

Way of St. James and Riding Trail

The Way of St. James passes through Zvikovec. The church is a notable sight along the route. Another route through the town is the Central Bohemian Region riding trail. It begins on the green route in Křivoklát and ends at the mouth of the Javornice stream. There it joins a red route, which connects to riding trails in the Plzeň Region near Bílov.

The two routes differ in character: the church is the main attraction along the Way of St. James, while the riding trail offers orientation through its starting point, endpoint and connections. When planning your trip, you can therefore consider whether you are more interested in the religious history along the pilgrimage route or in the course of the riding trail. Together with the building history of the church, rectory and castle, these routes offer different thematic perspectives on Zvikovec.

Discover more destinations: Kornatice, Nevid, Hůrky, Rokycany, Strašice, Podmokly, Terešov, Skořice

For the wider travel overview: Rokycany District.