Hostouň

Hostouň lies in the valley of the Sulovický potok. Several historic sites give the surrounding area a distinctive character: two Jewish cemeteries, the Baroque Church of St. Bartholomew, and the remains of Tvrz Šafránov. Together, they lead from the history of Jewish cemeteries and ecclesiastical architecture to a former estate farm. For your exploration, the locations’ respective settings and the specific access arrangements are therefore just as interesting as their age.

History at cemeteries, church, and estate farm

The New Jewish Cemetery contains around 340 gravestones dating from 1856 to 1936. It also has a restored mortuary chapel, and the cemetery is freely accessible. The Church of St. Bartholomew is a Baroque church from the early 18th century. It was originally medieval, was extended at the beginning of the 18th century, and received its tower in 1773. Several historical phases of development can therefore be read in this building. Hostouň continues to celebrate a long-standing local tradition with the Bartolomějské posvícení.

Tvrz Šafránov also tells part of the history of the locality. The farm with the Tvrz was Hostouň’s most significant estate farm; its remains are still visible today. Tvrz Šafránov is a stone building with a Renaissance core that was altered and extended in the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries. In the second half of the 20th century, it was partially demolished. As a result, visible remains and a multilayered architectural history stand side by side at this site.

Two Jewish cemeteries in different locations

The Old Jewish Cemetery was established in the first half of the 18th century. Its oldest gravestone dates from 1786, and the last burial took place in 1848. Around 40 gravestones have been preserved, and the cemetery is freely accessible. Its chronology therefore differs significantly from that of the New Jewish Cemetery.

For orientation on site, the location of the Old Cemetery is described particularly specifically: it lies about 600 meters from the center of Hostouň, in the narrow valley of the Sulovický potok. There is no direct access road. The approach leads from the end of the road along a garden and across the edge of a field. This final stretch should therefore be taken into account when planning a visit.

The New Jewish Cemetery lies southwest of the center of Hostouň, on a slope above the Sulovický potok. A drivable unpaved road leads there from the Hostouň–Pavlov road; parking is available in the immediate vicinity. Compared with the Old Cemetery, not only is the number of preserved gravestones greater, but the local setting is also different: around 340 gravestones, the restored mortuary chapel, and the described access route form a distinct focus for historical exploration here.

More places to include in your plans

For further exploration, you can also include Bílichov Bílichov, Poštovice Poštovice, Zichovec Zichovec, Kutrovice Kutrovice, Dřínov Dřínov, Třebichovice Třebichovice, Velké Přítočno Velké Přítočno, and Páleč Páleč in your travel plans.

To the main travel overview: Kladno District.