Krupá: History, Louštín and the Džbán Landscape

Krupá combines a multifaceted local history with wooded landscapes and excursion destinations in the Džbán Hills. Those looking for accommodation here will discover a place with historical traces, a distinctive church and various opportunities for cultural and nature experiences.

Church and Local History

South of Krupá stands the Church of St Gothard on the site of the former village square. The Baroque-modified building preserves Gothic masonry. The church is not open to the public, but it can be viewed from the outside. The medieval settlement of Kostelec, which was destroyed in 1318, once stood around it. Medieval pottery finds in the surrounding fields attest to its former existence. Krupá has been documented since the 15th century under the former name of Kostelec. During the Thirty Years' War, the village was destroyed and subsequently rebuilt. The church thus represents both the Baroque reconstruction and the village's medieval past.

Louštín, Merkovka and the Džbán Hills

In the surroundings of Krupá lies the wooded Louštín, rising to an elevation of 536 m and offering a viewpoint over the surrounding landscape. At the same time, the mountain preserves traces of a Hallstatt–La Tène hillfort dating from around 500 BC. The forest, the view and the archaeological connection make Louštín a destination with several historical and landscape dimensions. At Merkovka, visitors can drink water with a high iron content and walk through old beech forests. Seating for tourists and an information board about the history of the former spa town complement this site. The seating and information board add a break and an insight into the history of the former spa town to the walk. The wider Džbán Hills were declared a nature park in 1994 because of their exceptional and well-preserved landscape and natural character.

Museums, Crafts and Hiking Destinations

The local history museum in Hředle displays archaeological finds, old agricultural implements, hop tokens, a preserved tower clock mechanism and documents from the communist era. The collection combines archaeological evidence, agriculture, hops and more recent local history. In the surrounding area, Hrnčírna Jiřího a Daniely Duchkových produces functional and decorative ceramics. Hrnčírna Mutějovice brings the past to life with replicas of historical vessels and revives forgotten and lost pottery-making techniques. The two workshops present ceramics from two perspectives: as functional and decorative objects, and as historical vessel forms made using rediscovered techniques.

Džbán Castle can be reached from the Mutějovice railway station in the surroundings of Krupá via a green-marked hiking trail. This makes it possible to plan a stay combining local history, regional crafts and a hike to a historical destination.

Transport and Local Amenities

The D6 road, formerly R6, runs through Krupá. The Praha–Lužná–Chomutov railway line also runs through the village. Krupá also has a children's playground. The Robin Hippotherapy Centre offers psychotherapeutic activities with horses, while Ranch Aura is available as a recreational facility.

For other places to include in your travel planning, you can also view Třtice, Jesenice U Rakovníka, Luzna U Rakovnika, Václavy, Senomaty, Pavlíkov, Šípy and Pustověty.

For the higher-level travel overview: Okres Rakovník.