Plzeň-North District: Baroque architecture and routes

Plzeň-North District offers Baroque buildings, museums, woodland scenery and cycling opportunities to suit a range of travel interests. In Plasy, a special guided tour takes visitors to the monastery’s historic water system; cycling routes offer a different perspective on the region. Seasonal activities at the Hracholusky Reservoir can also shape your stay. You can plan your trip around your own interests without trying to fit culture and nature into a single itinerary.

Baroque architectural history and cultural heritage

Between 1661 and 1785, Plasy Monastery underwent an extensive Baroque reconstruction. It is a National Cultural Monument and holds the European Heritage designation. A special guided tour focuses on its historic water system. Those interested in architectural history will find a dedicated subject at the Centre for Building Heritage in Plasy: the history of building techniques and materials. The Museum and Gallery of North Plzeňsko presents exhibitions on the region’s history.

Mariánská Týnice also brings architecture and history together. The site was a place of pilgrimage and a Cistercian provostry associated with Plasy Monastery. Since 2018, the complex has been included on the list of National Cultural Monuments of the Czech Republic. The pilgrimage church was designed by Jan Blažej Santini-Aichel: its floor plan follows a Greek cross, topped by a central dome.

Manětín Castle and its park are also designated as a National Cultural Monument. The park is laid out in the style of an English landscape garden; its features include a pond, a hermitage and a pavilion. These cultural sites offer different ways to explore the area: from the architectural development of a monastery and sacred architecture to the design of a landscape park.

Cycling routes with different focuses

Three Baroque cycling loops start in Plasy. The Baroque routes use marked cycle paths of the Czech Tourist Club (Klub českých turistů) bearing the West Bohemian Baroque logo. Further afield in North Plzeňsko, there are routes of varying difficulty. Ten Baroque rest stops in the region offer views of significant monuments; individual facilities may change. Baroko I and Baroko III offer a specific comparison: Baroko I passes the Baroque farmsteads of Kalec and Sechutice; Mariánská Týnice is considered a highlight of this route. Baroko III runs through Baroque avenues and wild forests, among other places to Kaceřov.

Another option is the 49.4-kilometre Postřelím cycling tour, suitable for trekking or mountain bikes. It starts at Žihle railway station on the Plzeň–Žatec rail corridor. Rabštejn lies along the route; its landmarks include a castle, a chateau, wooden houses, a pub and a church. While the Postřelím tour has a set distance, the Baroque routes vary in difficulty. Route conditions may change; check them before setting out.

Forests, lakes and activities on the water

Manětínská Nature Park is largely covered by a continuous forest complex with native tree species and a valuable herb layer. Several hiking and cycling trails run through the nature park. Odlezelské Lake can be reached by car or on foot from nearby Odlezly. At Hromnické Lake, a viewpoint is about 100 metres away; you can also walk around the lake.

Boat excursions are offered at the Hracholusky Reservoir. Boats departing from the Transkemp Hracholusky landing stage stop at several locations around the reservoir. Boat trips are seasonal and may change. Water skiing is also a seasonal activity, and its availability may vary. If these activities are important to your trip, check the schedules and seasonal availability in advance.

The Pňovany Bridge, completed in 1901, can be crossed on foot or by bicycle. For planning, it is advisable to check for temporary closures. Then compare the locations based on the places you would like to visit.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Hracholusky, Třemošná, Nečtiny, Manetin, Ulice, Pnovany, Bdeneves, Pernarec, Nová Jezná, Kozolupy, Hromnice, Pnovany-Rajov, Zihle, Kožlany, Bezvěrov, Plasy, Bílov, Chříč, Dolní Bělá, Druztová, Heřmanova Huť, Horní Bříza, Kaznějov, Líšťany, Krsy, Křelovice, Ledce, Kozojedy, Líně, Nýřany, Studená, Tlučná, Úněšov, Úterý, Vejprnice, Všehrdy, Zbůch, Zruč-Senec, Tis U Blatna, Přehýšov, Blažim, Bohy, Brodeslavy, Mladotice, Černíkovice, Čerňovice, Česká Bříza, Dobříč, Dolní Hradiště, Dražeň, Výrov, Hlince, Hněvnice, Hvozd, Holovousy, Horní Bělá, Zahrádka, Chotíkov, Kaceřov, Kbelany, Koryta, Krašovice, Ostrov U Bezdružic, Štichovice, Kunějovice, Město Touškov, Nekmíř, Líté, Lochousice, Loza, Mrtník, Myslinka, Nadryby, Nevřeň, Velečín, Pastuchovice, Plešnice, Potvorov, Příšov, Rochlov, Sedlec, Žilov, Tatiná, Trnová, Úherce, Újezd Nade Mží, Vochov, Vysoká Libyně, Kralovice, Lipno, Blatnice, Obora.

For the broader travel overview: Pilsen.