Horčápsko – Historic Routes, Březnice and Cultural History

Horčápsko is a destination for you if you would like to combine local history, historic routes and excursions into the surrounding area. Between old transport routes, ponds and distinctive elevations, you will encounter traces from several centuries. Březnice, Vinice and other places offer different perspectives on the landscape and its history.

History and the Former Place Name

The documented beginnings of Horčápsko date back to the period before 1300. In the earliest Latin documents, the place was referred to as “Hořečapsko”. In 1313, King John of Luxembourg donated Horčápsko to the monastery in Ostrov.

Historic Routes between Horčápsko and Hráze

The roads and paths also tell the story of the area’s development. The road from Hrádek via Horčápsko to Tochovice was built in 1928. Construction of the road from Horčápsko to Hráze began in 1932. A cherry tree avenue was planted along this route in 1934.

A historic branch of the route ran east along Horčápský rybník, over the eastern slope of the 538-metre-high Vinice mountain and onward to Březnice. Around Vinice, preserved sunken lanes bear witness to a historic network of routes. Several sunken lanes have also been preserved along the historic route from Horčápsko to Hráze, following the present-day road. A plague column stands beside the historic route to Březnice. A second historic branch of the route led via Hráze, a more recent settlement that developed on an embankment between two ponds.

Březnice: Castle, Synagogue and Circular Trail

The Březnice château, approximately three kilometres away, is located in the vicinity of Horčápsko. The Renaissance château was converted from a Gothic fortress and has an English park. Also in the surrounding area, the original Březnice synagogue was built between 1726 and 1728; it acquired its present appearance in 1874.

For a manageable excursion, Březnice has a two-kilometre circular trail that can be walked on foot and is accessible with a stroller. The fourth station of the pilgrimage route from Březnice to the pilgrimage site of Svatá Hora is located in the cadastral area of Horčápsko, in front of Višňovka mountain. A blue hiking trail serves tourism in Horčápsko and leads through important sights and interesting places in the surrounding area.

Connections and Local Points of Reference

Horčápsko is connected to Příbram and Březnice by bus and rail services. These connections provide you with a clear basis for spatial orientation when researching Horčápsko and Březnice together. In Horčápsko, the cultural centre rents out a large hall for larger events, with a capacity of approximately 80 people. For smaller meetings and receptions, a café with a capacity of 20 people is available for rent there.

The mill in the surrounding area also has a documented history: its first written mention dates from 1543. It was rebuilt the following year and resumed milling operations for the first time on 26 October 1868.

For further local research, you can also find Narysov, Dublovice, Pouste, Obořiště, Štětkovice, Sedlčany, Brekova Lhota and Nečín.

For the higher-level travel overview: Příbram District.