Očihov – St. Martin’s Church, the Blšanka and local history

Očihov offers several distinct points of interest for planning a trip: the Church of St. Martin on the left bank of the Blšanka, a chapel in the village square, archaeological traces of settlement and the river landscape. A regional cycle route is also planned for the area; fishing is permitted in the Blšanka 2 B fishing area. This can help you decide whether architectural history, landscape, cycling or fishing is your main interest.

St. Martin’s Church and its architecture

The Church of St. Martin stands on the eastern edge of Očihov, on the left bank of the Blšanka. A narrower polygonal presbytery adjoins the irregularly rectangular nave. It differs from the nave in both width and shape. A prismatic tower rises above the western gable of the nave, with a stair extension on its north side. The floor plan, tower and extension define the structure of the building. The church has been protected as a cultural monument since 1964. Its position on the riverbank and its architecture offer two different perspectives from which to view St. Martin’s Church.

The chapel and traces of earlier settlement

An originally Baroque chapel, shaped like a two-storey prism, stands in the village square. It was remodeled into its present form in 1900. Its Baroque origins and present appearance therefore belong to different building phases. In contrast to the church, which stands out for its floor plan and tower shape, the chapel is notable above all for this transformation in its design.

The story reaches further back in time: archaeological evidence of prehistoric and early medieval settlements has been found in the built-up area of the village and its immediate surroundings. These findings add a much earlier layer of settlement history to the architectural history. They date from a different period than the church and the chapel’s 1900 remodeling.

The Blšanka and its floodplain

The Blšanka floodplain is a significant landscape feature, accompanied by a belt of tall vegetation. The church on the left bank and the overgrown floodplain offer two different perspectives on the same river: one through the location of a building, the other through the character of the landscape. If you are interested in both local history and the landscape, you can consider these as distinct aspects of Očihov.

Cycling route and fishing

The plan for regional cycle route CT 3151 runs through Očihov and Očihovec. Most of the route is planned to follow passable field and forest tracks. As this is a planned route, check its current alignment and the condition of the tracks before setting out.

The Blšanka 2 B fishing area includes the 7.2 ha Očihovská in the cadastral area of Očihov. Fishing is permitted there. Check the current rules and restrictions before fishing, as they may change. Cycling and fishing thus offer different ways to experience Očihov in relation to its river landscape.

More destinations

Discover more destinations: Lipno, Vršovice, Cítoliby, Pnětluky, Blšany, Louny, Zbrašín, Lenešice

For the broader travel overview: Louny District.