A historic Czech town with baroque buildings, a 16th-century tower, and an underground crypt. Known for its carnation flowers and local beer production.
Klatovy began in the 1200s as a fortified town protecting trade routes near Bavaria. Start your visit at the 81-meter Black Tower, its darkened stone shaped by fires over centuries, then explore the Jesuit catacombs below the Church of the Immaculate Conception, where preserved bodies from the 1600s lie in glass cases. Don’t miss the Baroque Pharmacy "At the White Unicorn," filled with wooden cabinets and medical tools from the 1700s. The town center, still partly surrounded by medieval walls, mixes Gothic arcades with pastel-colored buildings from the 1800s. Trails from Hůrka Hill lead into forests and fields, making the town a starting point for historical sites and outdoor exploration.
Jesuit Catacombs: Preserved Bodies and Baroque History
Under the Jesuit Church of the Immaculate Conception, a crypt holds 38 mummified bodies placed here between 1676 and 1783. Jesuits and wealthy locals were buried in coffins stuffed with hops, which helped dry the remains through air vents in the walls. You can see their leathery skin, detailed clothing, and rings in glass displays that bring the Baroque period closer. A reconstructed face of a noblewoman, based on her skull, shows how scientists study these remains. Tours cost 120 CZK and explain how the ventilation system worked and who was buried here.
Climbing the Black Tower for Views
The Black Tower has stood on the main square since 1557, originally built to spot fires and invaders. Walk up 226 steps to the fifth-floor balcony to look over red rooftops, church towers, and hills like the Švihov Highlands. Its dark color comes from centuries of smoke damage, which you can read about in displays on the lower levels. On sunny days, you might see the outline of the Bohemian Forest, reminding visitors of Klatovy’s location near old trade paths. Entry costs 60 CZK and includes access to temporary exhibits about the tower’s history.
Baroque Pharmacy Museum with Original Tools
The "At the White Unicorn" pharmacy operated for nearly 200 years, closing in 1966. Inside, carved wooden statues of ancient doctors watch over glass jars filled with herbs, powders, and handwritten recipes for treatments like wound salves. Learn how monks grew medicinal plants in gardens and traded spices like saffron. The building still smells faintly of dried chamomile and mint, left from when workers mixed remedies here. A combined ticket with the catacombs lets you visit both sites.
Jewish Cemetery and Memorials
A 20-minute walk from the center brings you to a Jewish cemetery established in 1872. Over 200 gravestones mix Hebrew and Czech inscriptions, with some decorated with vines or stars. A simple stone monument lists names of Holocaust victims deported from Klatovy. The cemetery stays locked to prevent vandalism, so contact the local Jewish community in advance to arrange entry. Restorers fixed broken markers in the 1980s, but moss and cracked stones show the site’s age. Smaller graves near the back remember children who died in the early 1900s.
Medieval Walls and Town History
Remnants of Klatovy’s 14th-century walls, including circular towers, still border parts of the old town. The Jesuit Church of Saint Ignatius, finished in 1679, has ceiling paintings showing missionaries in places like Japan and Mexico. Nearby, the Dr. Hostaš Museum displays Celtic jewelry, medieval weapons, and photos of U.S. soldiers liberating the town in 1945. Streets around the main square have Gothic arches under buildings painted in light blues and yellows. Look for plaques marking houses used by the Gestapo during World War II.
Biking Routes and Transportation Links
Klatovy is the starting point for the Král Šumavy bike race, a 180-kilometer loop through forests and past castles. Trains run to Plzeň every two hours, taking 45 minutes, with connections to Prague. Rent a bike near the station to explore backroads leading to abandoned farmsteads and fields of hops. For hikers, trails from Boudovka Hill (one of Klatovy’s two exclaves) wind through pine forests and rocky outcrops. Pick up free maps at the tourist office on the main square, which also lists bus times to nearby villages.
Tips for Visiting Klatovy
Most attractions are within a 10-minute walk of the main square, but wear comfortable shoes for the uphill path to Hůrka Hill. Summer evenings sometimes host concerts in the Jesuit church, taking advantage of its echoing vaults. Try local dishes like beef in cream sauce or potato soup with mushrooms at restaurants near the Black Tower. The tourist office gives free guides detailing hidden spots, like 19th-century water pipes visible in some building basements. Before arriving, check Klatovy’s website for updates—the tower and catacombs close on rainy days or for maintenance.
