Plešnice: Chapel, village green and Buben Castle Ruins

Plešnice combines local history with a distinctive hillside setting: the village green lies on a steep slope, where the chapel “Kaplička Nejsvětější trojice” stands. The Buben Castle Ruins are also located within the cadastral area of Plešnice.

Chapel and local history

The settlement of Plešnice was founded sometime in the 13th century; the chapel dates from the first half of the 18th century. These two dates place the religious building in a later phase of the area’s history. The chapel is listed as an immovable local cultural monument. Inside, a vaulted painting depicts angels carrying a cross into heaven.

Buben Castle Ruins

The castle ruins lie 1,200 m northeast of Plešnice, at the confluence of the Úlický potok and the Mže rivers. They are a significant archaeological site within the cadastral area of Plešnice. The complex comprises an outer bailey, a fortified zwinger, a residential tower, an L-shaped palas and a high defensive wall. An outer bailey is the outer area of a castle; in castle architecture, a zwinger is a fortified space between walls. A palas is a residential building; at Buben, it is L-shaped. The castle is thought to have had an important strategic and trading role because of its location on a valley route from Plzeň to Cheb. The chapel and the castle offer different historical perspectives: a religious vaulted motif on one hand, and architectural features and a presumed function of the castle on the other.

Hiking trails, cycle route and getting there

A blue-marked hiking trail to the Buben Castle Ruins starts at Plešnice railway station; from Buben, it continues southeast to Tlučná. A blue-marked forest path from Plešnice to the ruins follows the Úlický potok and is also suitable for strollers. Trail conditions and access may change; check the conditions before setting out. A green-marked hiking trail runs along the Mže towards the Hracholusky Reservoir. The routes lead in different directions: the blue trail goes to the ruins and continues to Tlučná, while the green trail follows the Mže towards the reservoir. Long-distance cycle route No. 37 passes through Plešnice and runs via Železná, Bělá nad Radbuzou, Stříbro, Pňovany, Nová Jezná, Plešnice, Bdeněves and Plzeň.

You can reach Plešnice from Plzeň by train in about 21 minutes; trains run approximately every two hours. Journey times and frequencies may change, so check the current timetable before travelling. The Buben Castle Ruins are freely accessible; nevertheless, you should check local access conditions before your visit. If you arrive by train, the blue-marked hiking trail to the castle ruins starts right at the station, so you can plan your journey and the start of your hike together.

Discover more destinations: Líně, Zruč-Senec, Pastuchovice, Město Touškov, Koryta, Kaceřov, Čerňovice, Nová Jezná

For the main travel overview: Plzeň-North District.