Caslav: Discover History, Museums and Landscapes

Čáslav combines a clearly legible historic character with museums, active pursuits and destinations in the surrounding landscape. Here, you can explore the town’s history through distinctive buildings, discover agricultural technology or supplement your stay with a visit to Vodranty Forest Park and other destinations in the area.

Urban history between the square and medieval buildings

Náměstí J. Žižky preserves a Gothic inner-town layout with a large central square and a right-angled street network. The Church of St. Peter and Paul incorporates a predecessor church built in the mid-12th century and dedicated to St. Michael, an Early Gothic presbytery added in the 13th century, as well as a Gothic three-nave building and a chapel of Our Lady of Sorrows built in the 14th century. The Čáslav Diet was held in this church in 1421.

Another striking testimony to the town’s history is the preserved Otakar Tower. The 22-metre-high cylindrical tower belonged to the former Brodská or Jeníkovská gatehouse. It was rebuilt in the pseudo-Gothic style in 1883 and has been preserved in this form to the present day. The town’s development after the devastating town fire of 1522 is also part of Čáslav’s history: a new hospital and, next to it, a church with a cemetery were built in the suburban area.

Museums and unusual exhibitions

A cycle path runs through the grounds of NZM Čáslav, which also features a traffic training area, a pump track and a workout zone. NZM Čáslav focuses on the history of mass-produced series of tractors, combine harvesters and ploughs. The museum displays agricultural machinery in a modern exhibition and partly accessible storage facilities, including rare prototypes that never entered serial production.

The Městské muzeum Čáslav is one of the oldest rural museums in the Czech Republic and is housed in a Neo-Renaissance building constructed in 1884. The Žižkova síň contains an exhibition commemorating Jan Žižka of Trocnov and the history of the Hussite movement. This gives Čáslav a range of different perspectives: urban structure, religious architecture, political history, technology and regional museum culture.

Landscape and destinations in the surrounding area

Čáslavský hrádek lies near Podměstský rybník and is now part of Vodranty Forest Park. The Kačina Chateau is also located near Čáslav, and Krkanka is a mountain in the vicinity of Čáslav. These destinations broaden the view beyond the town centre without allowing the town’s cultural sights to recede into the background.

When choosing your accommodation, you can consider the focus of your stay: Would you primarily like to explore historic buildings and exhibitions, combine a visit to NZM Čáslav with physical activity or also plan destinations in the countryside? Caslav is a suitable search term for a trip that brings these different interests together.

If you would like to compare other places, you can also find Zbizuby, Chlístovice, Miskovice, Šebestěnice, Vodranty, Zruc Nad Sázavou, Nové Dvory U Kutné Hory and Dolní Pohleď.

For the higher-level travel overview: Okres Kutná Hora.