Uncover Žatec: The Heart of Hops and Beer

Žatec is known for its classic Czech family silver, specifically its hops. The tradition of cultivating these hops goes back to the eleventh century, making it not just famous but an essential part of beer brewing worldwide. Breweries globally, including well-known brands like Budweiser Budvar and Pilsner Urquell, use these distinctive hops due to their excellent qualities. To learn about the secrets of growing Žatec hops and brewing great beer, visit the Temple of Hops and Beer, a new year-round center dedicated to hop farming. Built at a cost of nearly a quarter of a billion crowns, it’s located where the valuable hops were once dried, stored, and packaged in 19th-century hop-growing buildings. The remarkable renaissance malt house features a malting exhibition and gallery that you shouldn’t miss, along with the Hop Museum, which has the honor of possessing the largest hop display in the world.

The Temple of Hops and Beer is packed with attractions. A major highlight is the towering hop beacon, which stands over 40 m tall. You can take an elevator to the top, where you’ll find a fascinating 3D animation and get an aerial view of the renowned hop-growing region from the observation deck. Nearby, there is an old hop warehouse containing the original labyrinth of hop trees, which includes an alchemist’s workshop, a one-meter model of a hop cone, works by local painter Lubomir Farka, and historical photographs depicting Žatec’s residents. From this maze, you can descend into the Hall of Arms adorned with the coats of arms of all districts that grow Žatec hops. Another admired feature of the Temple of Hops and Beer is the original astronomical clock, which showcases stylized motifs and, unlike the older clock in Prague, chimes every hour with Mariah cards instead of apostles.

Don’t forget to explore the Hop Museum, where you can discover the evolution of hop cultivation from the Middle Ages to today. You’ll learn why Žatecko is known for growing the finest hops in the world and why they have been protected against substandard imitations since the Middle Ages. The museum also showcases intriguing tools, modern machinery, and historical devices, like the combing machine famously featured in the film Old Men on Hops.

The building called “Mederhaus” (named after its last German owners) is one of the most significant examples of late Gothic architecture in Žatec. During the First Republic, curious tourists were taken on tours through its interiors, and today it hosts a rich historical exhibition.

In the center of town, close to the town hall, you’ll find the smallest hop garden in the world, where visitors can get a close look at hop plants during the growing season.

One of the tiniest cultural monuments in the Czech Republic is the former Žatec First Republic newsagent’s. This historical sales stand was built early in the last century in a vital spot where people passed on their way to the train station. After it shut down, the building fell into disrepair until Mr. Daniel Černý purchased it and had it renovated.