Chotěšov: Monastery, Culture and Trails

Chotěšov offers a variety of options for a stay: the former convent, a recurring festival tradition and trails in the surrounding area. If you are looking for a hotel in Chotěšov, these themes can help you decide what to focus on during your trip. The following places and events offer concrete ideas to help you plan.

Monastery and Historic Buildings

Chotěšov Monastery is a national cultural monument and includes a former convent remodeled in the late Baroque style. It was founded in the early 13th century by Blessed Hroznata. Today, the monastery is open to the public and hosts guided tours, exhibitions and other cultural events. As visiting hours vary by season, check the current schedule before your trip.

The Pilsen Region Firefighting Museum opened in the monastery in 2013. Its key exhibits include a restored, working PS-6 Flader motorized fire pump. In addition to its monastic history, the site also has a connection to the region’s firefighting history through the year the museum opened and its exhibits.

Another significant historic building in Chotěšov is the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary. A column bearing a statue of Saint John of Nepomuk was erected in 1700 by Abbot and Provost Ondřej Fabritius. This history of buildings and monuments can be combined with a visit to the monastery without treating the individual sites as one and the same.

Festivals and Recurring Events

Staročeské máje has been held in Chotěšov since 1967 and takes place approximately every two years. The next edition is scheduled for 2027. On the second day of the festival, the program continues in the monastery garden: the dances Chodské kolečko and Špacírka are followed by Česká beseda. The setting and sequence of dances make this festival day a distinct opportunity to explore local tradition.

Another type of event is Běh Chotěšovem, an annual cross-country race for all age groups. Together, these make up an event calendar featuring a festival tradition held approximately every two years and an annual race. The two events differ both in their frequency and their format.

Trails, Views and Landscape

Several hiking trails in the area around Chotěšov lead to Křížový vrch, with its church and 22-meter-high observation tower. From the tower, you can see the peaks of the Bohemian Forest, nearby Chotěšov with its monastery, and the town of Stod. The viewpoint and the monastery offer different perspectives on the area.

The two-kilometer Stezka kolem Křížového vrchu loop trail runs through the same area. Its educational and play features explore topics related to forest flora and fauna. Several stops with information boards along the trail lead to a former pilgrimage site with a church and an observation tower. In choosing a route, this means the loop trail combines themed stops with a destination, while the observation tower also offers views of the places mentioned.

Another walk leads to the weir on the Radbuza. The route starts at Náměstí 1. máje and follows Klášterní Street. From there, you can choose between an upper path with views of the Radbuza River valley and a path along the millrace. The two options therefore differ in the views described and in whether the route follows the millrace. Local conditions may affect access, so check them before setting out.

In the area around Chotěšov, Pinky includes the ponds Velký rybník, Malý rybník and Šindlerák. The area is used mainly for recreational fishing and leisure. Its present-day landscape was formed as a result of coal mining at the Austria hard-coal mine and the subsequent subsidence of rock and soil. Fishing rules and access may change, so check the current conditions if you are planning a visit.

Discover more destinations: Hradec U Stoda, Příchovice, Bolkov, Borovy, Horní Lukavice, Přestavlky U Dnešic, Mileč, Nová Ves U Plzně

For the regional travel overview: Plzeň-Jih.