Discover Vrbno nad Lesy

Vrbno nad Lesy combines a long history with clearly distinct architectural features. When planning your trip, it is useful to consider two aspects separately: the U40 places the town on an interregional rail route, while the church, rectory and cemeteries offer historical and architectural details. If you are looking for a hotel in Vrbno nad Lesy, you can use these details to decide whether the rail connection and cultural attractions suit your planned stay.

Travel on the U40

The June 2026 line information lists Vrbno nad Lesy as a stop on České dráhy’s daily interregional U40 line between Slaný and Louny. Service patterns may change, so check the timetable for your travel date.

History of the town

Vrbno nad Lesy was first mentioned in writing in 1143. That same year, Prince Vladislav donated Vrbno to Strahov Monastery. In the Middle Ages, the town was divided among the Monastery of St. George, the Premonstratensians from Strahov, and the abbess of Panenský Týnec. For visitors interested in church and monastery history, this means the town links an early donation with a later division among three ecclesiastical authorities.

Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary

The Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary dates from before 1321 as an Early Gothic church and was later remodeled in the Baroque style. It has a single nave; the presbytery is narrower than the nave, and both have rectangular floor plans. A prismatic tower with an onion dome adjoins the north side. The building therefore reveals two distinct periods: its Early Gothic origins and its Baroque transformation.

Rectory and square

The Baroque rectory complex defines the center of Vrbno nad Lesy and borders the northeastern side of the square. It comprises the rectory, an outbuilding, a gateway and a perimeter wall with another gate. The rectory is single-storey and consists of two rectangular wings arranged at right angles to each other. The main wing faces the square.

The gateway can also be described precisely by its features: it has two portals. The larger one has a vaulted round arch and a double-leaf gate; the second, smaller portal is straight and has a door. While the church is notable for its building phases, the rectory complex is best understood through the layout of its buildings and gates.

Cemeteries and remembrance

The cemetery in Vrbno nad Lesy is enclosed by its original perimeter wall and contains numerous old Czech gravestones. The grave of Václav Kozák is also located there. The inscription describes him as an Olympic champion, European champion and “Rower of the Century.” Together with Pavel Schmidt, Kozák won Olympic gold in the double sculls in Rome.

Another memorial site lies outside the town itself: a Jewish cemetery with gravestones dating from the 18th century is located on a field road between Vrbno nad Lesy and Hřivčice, in the cadastral area of Hřivčice. Its location and historic gravestones distinguish it from the cemetery in Vrbno nad Lesy.

Discover more destinations: Dobroměřice, Opočno, Hříškov, Laun, Počedělice, Toužetín, Vršovice, Lubenec.

For the broader travel overview: Okres Louny.