Brňany – Castle, Chapel and Ohře

If you are looking for a place in the Czech Republic where history meets a river landscape, turn your attention to Brňany. The town lies in the Elbe Lowland on the left bank of the Ohře. Its distinctive features range from Brňany Castle, a cultural monument, to oxbow lakes, agriculturally dominated areas and a path along the Ohře that is increasingly used by cyclists.

History and Castle Complex

Brňany was first mentioned in 1057 in the founding charter of the Litoměřice chapter. In 1226, the town came into the possession of Doksany Monastery. In 1436, Brňany passed to the city of Litoměřice before Doksany Monastery bought it back in 1551.

Brňany Castle is a cultural monument. The protected castle complex includes a granary, barns, stables, livestock sheds, a former garden and an orchard, all enclosed by a surrounding wall. The wall brings the different types of buildings and garden areas together into a cohesive castle complex. Thus, alongside the history of the town, the focus is also on an ensemble whose components connect its agricultural and aristocratic past.

Chapel of Baroque Origin with Neo-Gothic Alterations

Another distinctive feature is the Chapel of Our Lady of Sorrows and Saint John of Nepomuk. It dates from 1723 and is a small square building with a semicircular apse and a polygonal bell turret. The combination of the square structure, semicircular apse and polygonal bell turret gives the small building a clear form. In the 19th century, the chapel was remodeled in the Neo-Gothic style. Services are held there on the first Saturday of each month and are conducted by Premonstratensians from Doksany. Those interested in local history, sacred architecture and living religious traditions will find here a clearly dated element of a visit to Brňany.

The Ohře, Oxbow Lakes and Landscape

Two oxbow lakes of the Ohře lie within the cadastral area of Brňany: one in the direction of Bohušovice and one in the direction of Brozany. Together with the location on the left bank of the river, they give the surroundings a distinctly water-shaped structure. The fertile soils around Brňany also provide the basis for intensive agriculture, particularly the cultivation of grain and vegetables. The two oxbow lakes complement the actual riverbank with additional water-shaped landscape features and meet intensively cultivated areas.

The Ohře and its side channels offer opportunities for fishing in Brňany. A path along the Ohře is increasingly used by cyclists because of the beautiful natural surroundings. For travel planning, cycling and fishing can therefore be considered as different activities in the same river environment. The significant Terezín Memorial is also located in the vicinity of Brňany. Terezín adds another historical focus to the surrounding area. Thus, when planning a trip, river landscapes, cycling, fishing, local history and remembrance culture come together without requiring you to limit yourself to just one type of experience.

More Destinations for Your Research

If you would like to compare other places for your trip to the Czech Republic in addition to Brňany, you can also view Krabčice, Roudnice Nad Labem, Nové Dvory U Doksan, Libotenice, Štětí, Polepy, Třebušín and Chotiměř.

Go to the higher-level travel overview: Litoměřice District.