Zvoleněves: Castle, Church and Sugar Factory History

Zvoleněves brings together the history of its castle, church and industry with a connection to the surrounding landscape. The present-day castle, St. Martin’s Church and the former sugar factory represent different stages in the town’s history; the pond is a place for recreation, and the floodplain of the Knovízský potok is designated as an area with a distinctive landscape character. These themes give you specific points of reference when looking for a hotel in Zvoleněves and help you get your bearings in the town during your stay.

Getting your bearings by train

Zvoleněves railway station is on line 110 between Kralupy nad Vltavou and Louny. If you are travelling by train, note that there is no step-free access to the platforms at the station. Check the accessibility information again before travelling, as it may change.

The castle and the town’s history

The present-day Zvoleněves Castle was built in 1675. An older castle, built in the 16th century, was completely burned down along with the town during the Thirty Years’ War. The site may have an even older connection: the present-day castle probably stands where the fortress of the original owners of the estate once stood. The castle’s history therefore encompasses a presumed earlier fortification, destruction and rebuilding.

An architectural detail links the castle with the church: at the beginning of the 19th century, the south wing was connected to the church by a covered passage over the former moat. The passage rested on three arches. This account describes a historic architectural connection and adds a specific feature of the architecture of the time to the castle’s history.

St. Martin’s Church

Dedicated to St. Martin, the church was built in 1352 above the present-day castle, on the hill by the cemetery. In 1745, Anna Maria of Tuscany had the church extended and fitted with a massive tower. Later structural changes to the church included the reconstruction of its façade and the replacement of its windows. These later alterations add to the early building history and have helped shape the building over time.

The former sugar factory

Sugar production is another part of the town’s history. Emperor Ferdinand I had the original sugar factory built in 1859, when he owned the Zvoleněves estate. Sugar production at the Zvoleněves factory ceased at the end of 2001.

The described architectural features are especially evident on the former factory’s main production building: the boiling house has tall windows spanning all of its built-in floors. The gables feature distinctive decorative elements in the shape of sugar loaves; there is also a structure with a water tower. These details set the industrial side of the town’s history apart from the historical accounts of the castle and church, and make the former production site a subject in its own right.

Landscape and recreation

The floodplain of the Knovízský potok is designated in Zvoleněves as an area with a distinctive landscape character. The pond in Zvoleněves is used for recreation. Alongside the town’s architectural and industrial history, the floodplain and a local recreational area are therefore among its defining features.

Another historical attraction lies nearby, between Drnov and Podlešín: the Slaný–Drnov Museum of the Cold War and Air Defense is located in an underground former command post of the 71st Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade. Its location sets it apart from the buildings described in Zvoleněves and adds a separate subject in military history to the town’s story.

Discover more destinations: Buštěhrad, Černuc, Horní Bezděkov, Studeněves, Líský, Družec, Hrdlív, Cvrčovice

For the broader travel overview: Kladno District.