Hostomice nad Bílinou – History at Husův vrch

Hostomice nad Bílinou lies at the transition between the Ore Mountains and Husův vrch and is considered a gateway to the Central Bohemian Uplands. The town combines a striking landscape with a history that stretches from its first written mention in 1225 to industrialization and archaeological discoveries. If you would like to combine nature, local history, and unusual finds on your trip, Hostomice offers several specific starting points for doing so.

Husův vrch and the hiking route from the train station

Husův vrch is a Tertiary-age neovolcanic hill composed of olivine nephelinite and pyroclastics above the Bílina Valley. The Husův vrch geological locality lies on the southern slope of the hill of the same name, at the eastern edge of Hostomice. Thus, the landscape is defined not only by the hill’s name but also by its geological composition.

A hiking route begins at the railway station, crosses the Bílina on a road and over a small bridge, and leads to the foot of Husův vrch. If you are traveling with children, you can use this sequence as an easy-to-understand guide for exploring the surroundings together without separating the town’s history from its landscape.

From the Medieval Mention to Industrial History

The first written mention of Hostomice dates from 1225, when the settlement was donated to a convent of the Knights of the Cross. During the rapid industrialization of the second half of the 19th century, glassworks were established in Hostomice. Coal was mined in several open-pit mines in the surrounding area during industrial development. A railway line was also built, connecting Bílina and Ústí nad Labem. The railway line was therefore just as much a part of industrial development as the glassworks and coal mining in several open-pit mines. Several of these changes took place in parallel and gave the town a distinct industrial character alongside its medieval history.

The finds from the town also date back a long way. Around the turn of the 20th century, a large settlement and a Late Bronze Age hoard were discovered in Hostomice. The finds included axes, a sword, arrowheads, bracelets, pins, and decorated buttons. Fossil remains were also uncovered during mining and brickmaking work, including massive tusks of mastodons, elephants of the genus Dinotherium, as well as the remains of monkeys and bats.

The Former Sokolovna

Another historical landmark is the building known as “Bývalá sokolovna Hostomice nad Bílinou.” It opened in 1922 and was frequently used by the theater section of the local unit, founded in 1907. The building includes a hall with a gallery and stage. For your planning, it is important to note that the former Sokolovna is currently out of operation. Its history nevertheless adds to the picture of a place where community life, theater, and industrial history belong together.

More Places for Planning Your Trip

If you would like to research other places in addition to Hostomice, you can also look at Lukov U Bíliny, Dubí, Újezdeček, Zabrušany, Osek, Krupka, Lahošť and Novosedlice.

For the higher-level travel overview: Teplice District.