Kočov

Kočov offers a surprising combination of sacred history, archaeological traces, village traditions, and a clearly designated stretch of water. Particularly striking is the ruin of the Baroque pilgrimage Church of St. John the Baptist south of Kočov in the Tachov region. In 2000, it was designed as the “Cave of Hell” and served as a setting for the film Z pekla štěstí 2 by director Zdeněk Troška. At the same time, the church ruin has been protected as a cultural monument of the Czech Republic since 1992. The ruin thus combines sacred history, heritage protection, and a later role in film history. The chronology therefore spans the period from 1992 to 2000.

Cultural Monuments and Archaeological Traces

Anyone interested in the history of a place will find several different points of reference in Kočov. The historic built-up area of Kočov is classified as a significant archaeological site in category ÚAN I. The archaeological site there is assigned to the periods of the Late Middle Ages and the Modern Era. The documented history of the village therefore extends beyond a single attraction and also includes the development of the historic settlement area.

Another historical point of reference is the fortification site of Kočov, which is listed as a currently protected archaeological feature. The village square is also home to the Zvonička in Kočov. The simple municipal bell tower consists of two wooden posts, supports a pyramidal roof covered with wooden shingles, and has a bell suspended beneath the roof. It is considered a valuable small example of village furnishings from the second half of the 19th century. Details of this kind give a visit to the village a different character from a tour of a large castle or an extensive chateau complex.

Annual Program and Regional Connections

The municipality of Kočov organizes numerous events for children and adults every year. The annual program includes Children's Day, a masked ball, and Masopust. There is also a May Day parade, the burning of witches, a lantern parade, and a kite festival. The mix therefore combines events for children and adults with holidays, parades, and village customs from the annual program.

The Mže 6 fishing area (FV Planá u Mariánských Lázní) represents another form of orientation within the area. For 2025 and 2026, it is designated as 16 km long and covering 16 hectares. The designated section runs from the weir at the Šturanický Mlýn mill in the cadastral area of Ošelín to the weir near the settlement of Ústí close to the municipality of Kočov. Its exact extent therefore lies between two weirs and includes local references in the cadastral area of Ošelín, near the settlement of Ústí, and close to the municipality of Kočov.

Further Places for Your Czech Republic Research

If you would like to compare Kočov with other destinations, you can also include Prostiboř, Cebiv, Lesná, Hošťka, Skapce, Planá U Mariánských Lázní, Ošelín and Kšice in your broader selection.

To the higher-level travel overview: Tachov District.