Discovering Stříbro in Just One Day – Your Ultimate Guide!

The town of Stříbro is located on a historic trade route that connects Nuremberg and Prague. Its name indicates a connection to mining and the extraction of ore. The earliest mention of silver mines in the area goes back to 1183, making the region around Stříbro the oldest documented ore district in the country. When you stroll along the slopes overlooking the Mže River valley, you wouldn’t guess that beneath your feet lies an intricate system of adits that reach deep underground. You might come across names like Saint Barbara, Gottwill, Saint Anne, or Joseph II. These four old, hard-to-reach adits are connected by an educational trail. However, you can actually enter one of them called Prokop, which is currently the only accessible adit, in addition to visiting the open-air mining museum.

Stříbro and its silver history

When you take the train to Stříbro, you will first encounter the ‘History of Mining in the Stříbro Region’ nature trail. This trail features seven information boards about geology and mining, and it follows the River Mže, leading directly to the mining museum. While walking, you will also see a few military bunkers along the riverbank.

It’s important to note that silver hasn’t been mined in Stříbro for many years; once the silver reserves were depleted, lead became the primary mineral extracted. The town saw its peak mining activity in the 19th century, with operations in five districts. Unfortunately, the last trucks full of ore exited the tunnels in 1974.

After visiting the Mining Museum, you can make your way into the town center, either via the Red Footbridge or the Renaissance stone bridge.

A bridge like no other

Historically, the royal town of Stříbro was surrounded by protective walls. The oldest remaining parts, located on the southern edge of the historic center, date back to the early 14th century. Of the various bastions, only one remains today, known as Husitská. Stříbro was also defended by a stone bridge that crossed the River Mže, which included a gate. This bridge was constructed between 1555 and 1560 by the master builder Benedikt Volch of Ferrol and served as the main entryway into the town from both Plzeň and Prague. Interestingly, the bridge gate, adorned with sgraffito, is among the few of its type found in the Czech Republic, along with the Old Town Bridge Tower and the Lesser Town Bridge Tower of Charles Bridge in Prague.

The bridge in Stříbro is so noteworthy that it has been featured alongside other monuments in the Czech Republic in a paper model of the Municipal Heritage Reserve, which is the largest project by Richard Vyškovský and appeared as a model in ABC magazine. Unlike other models of famous landmarks, this small medieval town has not a single, faithful replica; instead, it features the most beautiful elements from numerous Czech and Moravian towns. For instance, there’s a town gate resembling one from Rakovník, the Old-New Synagogue from Prague, and the Renaissance bridge with a gate that is inspired by the one in Stříbro.

Town Hall, the 13th meridian, and Via Carolina

In the heart of Stříbro, you will be captivated by the historic architecture of the old houses and, especially, the beautiful square featuring the grand Renaissance town hall. The original version of the town hall has not survived over the years. The current building, which has three gables and a Baroque dome added later, dates back to 1543. It boasts sgraffito artwork that shows the founding of the town and its defense against the Crusaders. Just across from the town hall is the plague column featuring a statue of the Virgin Mary. The people of Stříbro commissioned it in 1710 during a plague outbreak that affected the town. Located in what used to be a Minorite monastery, established by the Švamberk family in the 13th century, is the Town Museum. Here, visitors can learn about the cultural and historical evolution of the town as well as the minerals found in the local mines. The museum also serves as the Stříbro Tourist Information Centre.

Embedded within the pavement of Masaryk Square is a commemorative plaque that marks the location of the Nuremberg Road, also known as the Golden Road or Via Carolina. This was one of the most significant trade routes connecting the Kingdom of Bohemia to present-day Germany, particularly flourishing during King Charles IV’s reign. Another point of interest is the sculpture that signifies the 13th meridian, which passes through the center of the city. You can spot it in the park near the Slavia cinema. Not only that, but some twin towns also lie along this meridian, and stones from these towns were used to create this monument.

If you enjoy viewing towers, don’t miss the tower of the Deanery Church of All Saints in Stříbro. Originally Gothic in style, it has 144 steps leading up to the top. From there, the entire town spreads out before you.

Day trip suggestions

From Stříbro, you can follow a well-marked trail or bike path that takes you through the woods above the Mže Valley to the Hracholusky Dam, along the Way of the Cross to Křížový vrch, or along the blue tourist trail leading to Kladruby. It’s about six kilometers from the town center to the gate of the Benedictine monastery. This historical site, which has served as a spiritual and economic hub for many centuries, was founded in 1115 by Prince Vladislav I, making it the oldest monastery directly established by a monarch in our country. The monastery offers various guided tours, including a wheelchair-accessible route.