Chodová Planá: Brewery, Castle Park and Cultural Heritage

Chodová Planá brings together brewing history, religious architecture, Jewish cultural heritage and a varied park landscape. These themes offer different ways to shape your stay: you can explore the cellars of Pivovar Chodovar, learn about historic cemeteries and churches, or discover the castle park as a landscape. A beer spa and a fitness trail are also among the local attractions. If you are looking for a hotel in Chodová Planá, it may help to consider which of these themes you would like to define your stay.

Brewery and beer spa

The cellars of Pivovar Chodovar date back to the 14th century, are carved into granite and are still used for brewing beer. One section of the cellars houses a small museum of the brewing industry. A 40-metre-long passage carved through solid rock leads there. A visit therefore focuses on the underground rooms and the history of brewing.

Pivovar Chodovar also offers a tour that includes visits to the floor maltings, brewhouse and open fermentation room. It includes a beer tasting at the brewery well. The beer spa is another part of the local offering: classic massages or malt poultices may follow. The beer baths are next to a castle park, so the brewery and park landscape can be explored as different aspects of a stay.

Castle park and exercise

The castle park has the character of a landscaped park. Several gentle hills are separated by small valleys with streams. The Old Jewish Cemetery lies in the park’s hilly, extensive grounds. The Chodovoplánská fitness trail is also located there and has eight exercise stations. As the facilities may change, it is advisable to check current information before using them.

The castle complex includes a café open to the public. Check whether it will be open on the date of your visit. The castle itself is a largely intact historicist building. The park, building and café offer different points of interest if you are choosing a stay based on the landscape or historical heritage.

Church, cemeteries and local history

The Baroque Church of St John the Baptist was built between 1748 and 1754. Its interior features frescoes by Eliáš Dollhopf. The date of construction and the artistic decoration each give the church a distinct historical dimension: the period points to Baroque architecture, while the frescoes reflect the interior’s design.

The Old Jewish Cemetery contains around 100 gravestones, most of which date from the 18th and 19th centuries. A Czech-German project restored the cemetery; today, the well-maintained site once again attracts visitors. The New Jewish Cemetery was established in 1890 and is one of the last surviving traces of Jewish community life in Chodová Planá. Its wrought-iron gate bears Stars of David. Together, the two cemeteries point to the town’s Jewish heritage, while Regent Pond, dating back to 1479, adds another historical layer.

Getting there and cycling routes

Chodová Planá can be reached by direct train from Mariánské Lázně. If you plan to use the rail connection for your trip, check the timetable for your travel date. A cycling connection between the towns is also described: a cycle route from Chodová Planá to Mariánské Lázně connects to a cycle route to Planá. Check current route conditions before setting off. This information can help you include travel and possible activities in your plans without assuming a particular schedule.

Discover more destinations: Hostíčkov, Zhoř, Bezdružice, Sulislav, Kladruby U Stříbra, Vranov U Stříbra, Lom U Tachova, Částkov.

For the broader travel overview: Okres Tachov.