Vochov: Educational Trail, Venus and Industrial History

Vochov brings together several very different aspects of the Czech Republic: a chapel dating from 1820, a historic educational trail with 10 stations, an important Neolithic figurine and traces of the region’s industrial history. The Mže, which flows in the vicinity of Vochov, is another feature. For travel planning, this does not result in a single must-see itinerary, but rather a choice between culture, local history, cycling routes and landscape orientation.

Cultural History Between the Chapel, Venus and Factories

A visible historical landmark is the Chapel of Saint Anne in Vochov. It dates from 1820 and thus represents a more recent era than the archaeological treasure associated with the village. The Vochov Venus is considered the first anthropomorphic figurine from the Neolithic period to have been found in Bohemia. At the same time, it is regarded as the only fully preserved figurine of its kind from the Czech lands outside Moravia known to date. The original can be seen in the prehistoric exhibition of the West Bohemian Museum in Pilsen.

Local economic history can also be traced through specific examples. The brickworks in Vochov was founded in 1830 by Prince Lobkowicz. The Lobkowicz brickworks was known for high-quality bricks, which were used for buildings, chimneys and durable paving. The Semler factory followed a different path: it began by manufacturing nails and subsequently developed into a wire factory. Under the SEM brand, it mainly produced gramophone needles.

The history of the Semler factory also includes an unusual technical chapter. A research group from Závod jaderných elektráren worked there on developing a school reactor that was intended to become the smallest in the world. The Maskovaná milenka leads into another historical dimension. It was a decoy created by the Škoda Works in Pilsen, which extended across an area of approximately 100 hectares between Vochov and Vejprnice and was intended to deceive Allied forces during air raids.

Educational Trail, Cycling Route and Various Distances

The historic educational trail in Vochov comprises 10 stations. They present local history in sequence without limiting the topics to a single era.

Cycling route No. 37 is also significant for cyclists. After passing through Křimice, it continues to Vochov. Another documented connection is associated with the Svatovojtěšský trojúhelník: pedestrians and cyclists traveled from the station in Křimice via Hornička to Vochov. Distances of 6, 10 or 15 kilometers were planned; some participants continued as far as the Cross of Saint Adalbert on the boundary between the cadastral territories of Vochov and Kozolupy.

This cross also has its own more recent history. The pedestal of the Cross of Saint Adalbert was returned to its original location in April 2022 by the Okrašlovací spolek Vochov and used for a new installation.

Annual Festival and Orientation for Your Stay

Local traditions include Vochovské dožínky, an annual harvest festival in Vochov. In 2025, it took place on Saturday, September 13, from 3:00 p.m. on the grounds near the municipal office. This specific date is in the past; at the same time, the festival shows that, alongside its historical heritage, local event culture is also part of Vochov’s character.

The surrounding area along the Mže adds a landscape dimension to the cultural and historical topics. Anyone looking for accommodation for a stay in Vochov can therefore first determine their own focus: Is the main interest local history and the Vochov Venus, the educational trail, cycling connections or a combination of these topics? Vochov offers several clearly distinguishable points of interest for this decision, without requiring the historical facts to be reinterpreted as a single unified experience.

For further travel planning, you can also view Ledce, Plasy, Tatiná, Nekmíř, Přehýšov, Líšťany, Hvozd and Horní Bříza.

For the overarching travel overview: Plzeň-North District.