Discover Žákava

Žákava combines a valley setting with a local history shaped by a range of specific themes. The landscape between the Úslava and Bradava provides the setting; the Žákava Knights, the Church of St. Lawrence, and the Žákava-Sváreč burial mound field offer distinct historical perspectives. This gives you a place you can understand through its landscape, architecture, and regional history. The topics range from pinpointing the exact location of a castle fortress to assessing the regional significance of a burial mound field.

Valley Between the Úslava and Bradava

Žákava lies in a valley between the Úslava River and the Bradava stream. These two waterways provide specific points of reference for the valley setting. The Úslava also features in the village’s history: a historic estate stood on a slope above the river. This connects the description of the landscape with a particular historic site. The river is therefore not only part of the valley setting but also a reference point for the former estate; the Bradava completes the description of the location as the second waterway.

Knightly History and the Former Estate

Žákava was the original seat of the Žákava Knights. Their castle fortress stood on a rocky rise at the site of today’s house numbers 1 and 49. This precise location links the history of the knightly family to a specific place in Žákava. Another chapter concerns the historic estate on the slope above the Úslava: it was later converted into a granary, which still stands in Žákava today. These two traces have different points of emphasis: the exact location is central to the castle fortress, while the estate’s later use and the granary’s survival are central to the estate. Alongside the history of a former seat of power, there is also the changing use of an estate and the preserved granary.

Church and Burial Mound Field

The Church of St. Lawrence in Žákava dates from the 14th century, has Gothic origins, and was later altered in the Renaissance and Baroque styles. Its construction history thus spans several periods. The sequence of its Gothic origins and later alterations is important to understanding it; the church cannot be reduced to a single stylistic period. For travelers interested in architecture, the focus is therefore on the church’s development over time.

The Žákava-Sváreč burial mound field is one of the largest burial mound fields in West Bohemia. A scholarly assessment published in 2014 classifies it accordingly within the region. Together with St. Lawrence, it offers a different perspective on the history of the place: the church is about its construction period and later alterations, while the burial mound field is about its significance in comparison with other sites in West Bohemia. This allows you to distinguish between architectural history and regional historical context.

Cycling Route and Municipal Library

The Žákava cycling route is part of the CT 31 long-distance cycle route. This provides cyclists with a specific reference point for planning their trip. As route designations can change, check the current route information before setting out. The route designation and the historical topics offer different starting points when adding Žákava to your travel plans.

The Žákava Municipal Library is open to the public twice a month in 2026. If you plan to visit, check the specific opening dates in advance. This will allow you to include a library visit on one of its public opening days.

Discover more travel destinations: Trebcice, Borovno, Dolce, Polanka, Nezdice, Předenice, Líšina, Stod.

For the regional travel overview: Plzeň-Jih.