Louny District – Castles, Hop-Growing Landscapes and Culture

Between Castles, Hop Gardens and a Nature Park

Louny District combines impressive cultural sites with a varied landscape. Around Panenský Týnec, the scenery extends from forests, steep slopes, ridges and rocks across streams, ponds and fields to hop gardens; at the same time, views open out over the Central Bohemian Uplands. Panenský Týnec lies in Džbán Nature Park. The local monastery complex is registered as a protected cultural monument in the Central List of Cultural Monuments of the Czech Republic. This creates a destination where landscape and history stand closely side by side.

Culture between Žatec and Louny

A particular focus is the hop-growing landscape around Žatec. The UNESCO property “Žatec and the Landscape of Saaz Hops” includes rural hop fields, the villages of Stekník and Trnovany, and Žatec’s historic town centre. Above the historic hop fields that are still in use, Stekník Chateau creates a distinctive landmark. The large Rococo building has an Italian terraced garden. You can choose from four guided tours there; one of them ends at the Chapel of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary. There is also an exhibition about hops in the cellar, as well as a separate tour of the Italian terraced garden.

Nový Hrad also has a clear historical connection to the region. The castle was built in 1465–1474 above Jimlín and Zeměchy, on the route between Louny and Žatec. It is open to visitors and offers several tours. In Žatec itself, the Chrám Chmele a Piva is located in a former hop warehouse and a former drying house, which served their original purpose for a hundred years from 1890 onwards. A guided tour leads through a labyrinth between hop bales and through a sulphur chamber.

Archaeology, Trails and Distinctive Landscapes

At the Archeoskanzen Březno open-air museum, an important archaeological site is brought to life through reconstructions from the Neolithic, Iron Age, Migration Period and Early Slavic periods. The site is associated with almost continuous settlement from 5000 BC to the 10th century AD. Archaeological experiments and prehistoric activities make a visit an opportunity to learn about history not only through buildings and exhibitions, but also through hands-on experience.

Several different routes are available for actively exploring the surrounding area. Archeoskanzen Březno lies on a yellow-marked hiking trail and cycle route 6. Stekník Chateau lies on cycle route 6, which runs from Žatec via Stekník towards Hradiště, Strkovice, Mradice, Skupice and Březno u Postoloprt. The Ohře Cycling Trail connects many sights in the Dolní Poohří region. Steppes occur on Raná and on the slopes of neighbouring volcanic hills. The “Úpatím Rané” educational trail is 2 km long, designed for pedestrians and easy.

Krásný Dvůr with its Park and Chateau

Krásný Dvůr can be reached by seasonal trains operated by Doupovské dráhy; the stop is approximately a 20-minute walk from the chateau. Buses also run from Podbořany, Žatec and Chomutov, with their stop approximately a 15-minute walk from the chateau. For planning your day, it is important to know that the park at Krásný Dvůr can be visited independently and without a guide all year round. Interior tours of the chateau, however, require advance reservations. The park and courtyard are accessible to wheelchair users, and the car park is about 30 metres from the chateau. This makes it possible to distinguish between different types of visit: a freely accessible walk through the park and a planned visit to the interiors.

Other Places in Louny District

For further orientation within the selection, see Smolnice, Laun, Petrohrad, Brody, Zatec, Černčice U Loun, Kozly, Slavětín, Obora, Postoloprty, Bitozeves, Blatno U Podbořan, Blšany, Chožov, Cítoliby, Deštnice, Domoušice, Hříškov, Hřivice, Kostice Nad Ohrí, Kryry, Libčeves, Lenešice, Libesice U Zatce, Libočany, Libořice, Vroutek, Lubenec, Mecholupy U Zatce, Nepomyšl, Očihov, Opočno, Panenský Týnec, Peruc, Podbořany, Raná U Loun, Ročov, Tuchořice, Vrbno Nad Lesy, Pnětluky, Blažim, Blšany U Loun, Brodec, Nové Sedlo U Žatce, Břvany, Čeradice U Žatec, Vinařice, Dobroměřice, Toužetín, Lipno, Holedeč, Zbrašín, Žiželice, Chlumčany U Loun, Chraberce, Jimlín, Koštice, Lišany, Líšťany, Velemyšleves, Nová Ves, Počedělice, Výškov, Podbořanský Rohozec, Zálužice, Úherce U Panenského Týnce, Veltěže, Vršovice, Želkovice, Žerotín U Panenského Týnce, Mradice, Krásný Dvůr and Lipenec.

For the broader travel overview: Aussig.