Chodová Planá: Beer Spa, Castle Park and Bohemian Culture

Chodová Planá combines Baroque culture, Jewish history, castle parkland and the special tradition of the beer spa. It is also home to a historic brewery cellar, a brewing industry museum and routes for cyclists. Those who want to combine different interests on their trip will therefore find much more here than just one reason for a day trip.

Baroque Church and Historicist Castle

One of the town’s most prominent cultural landmarks is the Baroque Church of St John the Baptist. It was built between 1748 and 1754, and the interior is decorated with frescoes by Eliáš Dollhopf. Chodová Planá Castle is another defining feature of the town; it is a largely fully preserved historicist building. The castle complex includes a café open to the public, allowing visitors to combine a visit to the building with a break.

Castle Park and Jewish Cemeteries

The castle park has the character of a landscaped park. Several gentle hills are separated by small valleys with streams, giving the grounds a varied appearance. The Old Jewish Cemetery lies in the hilly terrain of the extensive castle park. It contains around 100 gravestones, most of them dating from the 18th and 19th centuries. A Czech-German project restored the cemetery; today, the well-maintained site once again attracts visitors.

The New Jewish Cemetery was established in 1890 and is one of the last surviving reminders of Jewish community life in Chodová Planá. It is freely accessible. An iron gate with Stars of David forms a striking entrance and complements the site’s historic character.

Brewery Cellars, Beer Spa and Museum

Pivovar Chodovar offers a unique experience. The cellars, carved into granite, date from the 14th century and are still used for brewing beer today. During a guided tour, you will see the floor malt house, brewhouse and open fermentation room; this is followed by a beer tasting at the brewery well. One section of the cellars also houses a small brewing industry museum. It can be reached through a 40-metre-long passage carved through solid rock.

The beer spa includes a bath with Ilsano mineral water, special dark bathing beer and herbal extracts. The beer spa can be followed by classic massages or malt fuel packs. The beer baths are adjacent to a castle park, combining the special bathing experience with a historic parkland setting.

Cycling, Exercise and Regional Connections

For active days, the Chodovoplánská fitness trail in the park offers eight exercise stations. In addition, the cycle path from Chodová Planá to Mariánské Lázně connects to a cycle path leading to Planá. Chodová Planá can also be reached from Mariánské Lázně by direct train. This connection adds an opportunity to include the town in a trip around the surrounding area alongside its cultural attractions.

The Regent Pond is also part of Chodová Planá’s history: it was created in 1479. At the St John’s festivities held in Chodová Planá, a beer barrel-rolling competition was part of the programme.

Discover More Places

If you would like to compare more places, you can also find Hostíčkov, Studanka, Skapce, Tisová, Benešovice, Kokašice, Kříženec and Staré Sedliště.

For the higher-level travel overview: Tachov District.