A small Czech village

Holašovice, Czech Republic

It’s quiet here. Really quiet. The public bus I arrived on is rumbling down the road away from me. I was the only passenger who got off here and I’m standing by the side of the road alone. The engine of the bus is the only sound and now it’s almost gone.

I’ve come out to the small village of Holašovice, near the large urban centre of Česke Budejovice. It seems like a world away from the activity of the big city I’ve just come from. No shopping centres or market squares, no large hotels or industrial parks. In fact, Holašovice only has 23 houses in its centre. But they are why I’m here.

This small community is a perfect representation of the traditional villages that used to dot the countryside of Central Europe. Most of them – almost all of them, in fact – have now disappeared. Holašovice is one of the few that remain and the only one that hasn’t been dramatically changed. It’s why UNESCO has included it on the World Heritage List.

Holašovice has been quiet before – and it’s one of the reasons it still has the appearance of centuries ago. After the Second World War, it was abandoned and stood deserted under the communist regime. It wasn’t until 1990 that people started moving in to the buildings again and restoring them. The population grew until it reached the 140 people who live here today.

The 23 houses are all placed around a central square with a pond and a community building in the middle. Effectively, there is just one street in the village that forms a vague rectangle shape, about 200 metres long and 50 metres wide.

The houses might better be described as ‘farmyards’ because that’s effectively what they are. Most of them have an entrance gate that leads to a yard behind the front wall. If you continued further back, past the main buildings, you would reach a small plot of land that was once used for farming. The larger homesteads tend to have things like granaries on the site as well.

For visitors, the first thing you see is the facades of these farms. They were generally built during a period from the early nineteenth century and are colourful with white stucco ornamentation. Each is different, with its own individual design. But consistent elements across each of them create a continuous artwork, like a mural with a 360 degree perspective.

The ground plan of Holašovice may be from the Middle Ages but these decorations place the village in a particular period of time, in the nineteenth and early twentieth century when farmers were coming out from under the control of lords and they had more money to spend on aesthetics. It created a new style known as South Bohemian Folk Baroque.

As I walk around, looking at the buildings, popping inside one to order a coffee, taking photos, the grassy square in the middle has become busier. I must have beaten the tourist rush because there are now several dozen people also walking around and looking at the village. It’s certainly not crowded – this part of the Czech Republic is not nearly as popular as Prague – but my declaration that Holašovice was quiet seems slightly premature.

I don’t think these new arrivals will stay long. Having said that, neither will I. There is not a lot to see or do here other than the obvious. That’s not a problem – in fact, it’s quite nice. There are no artificial attractions to cater to tourists. Holašovice is not an open air museum, it is a real village where people live and work.

It could easily have continued its fall into disrepair after World War II but it has been saved and, for those of us who are interested in cultural heritage, that is very pleasing to see.

Where is Holašovice village?

The village is about 18 kilometres due west from the city of Česke Budejovice. You can see it on a map here.
It takes about 25 minutes to drive there from the city. There are also buses that take about 40 mins. The bus leaves from the roof of the Mercury Shopping Centre (opposite the main railway station). You can find the current timetable here.

When is Holašovice open?

The village is a public area so technically it is open all the time. The small businesses all keep their own hours but are open most of the time. The information centre is open from Tuesday to Saturday (0900 – 1700) during the warmer months. It is closed from November to March.
I found there was a bus that left Česke Budejovice at 1100 that arrived at 1140. It then came back through Holašovice at 1250. For me, an hour was long enough to see the village, take a bunch of photos and have a coffee.

How much does it cost to visit Holašovice?

The village is a public area so it is free to visit and walk around.

What else is there to do in the area?

I would recommend staying overnight in Česke Budejovice, if you’re not in a rush. The historic centre of the city is beautiful and nice for a meal. You can also visit the Budweiser Brewery. Read my story here about it.

Where should you stay in České Budějovice?

If you’re looking for a budget option, I would suggest Cuba Bar and Hostel in the centre of the city.
For something a bit local, Pension Macelis is a good option because it has a popular beer garden on site.
For a cool and stylish option, you should try U Tří Hrušek Suites & Apartments.
And if you’re after a bit of luxury, have a look at Zvon Design Suites.