Žatec (Saaz) – City of Hops

Žatec is a small Czech town not far from Prague. While other towns demolished their city walls, here they have been preserved and surround a town center that has remained virtually unchanged for centuries. Since 2023, the hop-growing region has been rightly included on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Strolling through the alleys of the “hop town,” you will discover not only medieval towers and baroque facades, but above all the architecture of hop processing: slender chimneys, huge drying floors, and massive warehouses bear witness to the time when Žatec was the global center of “green gold.”

The atmosphere is wonderfully relaxed and authentic. When you visit Žatec, you immerse yourself in the world of hops. Whether you enjoy a freshly tapped lager in the shadow of the town hall tower, explore the hop museum, or lose yourself in the labyrinth of historic warehouses, the city charmingly combines industrial heritage with Bohemian cosiness.

Žatec was first mentioned in 1004 in the chronicles of Thietmar of Merseburg. This makes it one of the oldest places in Czechia with written records. The town was a strategically important location on the Eger River from early on and was granted town privileges and the important brewing rights as early as 1265.

The town experienced its absolute heyday during the Industrial Revolution. “Saaz hops” became a global benchmark. It was during this period that the characteristic hop warehouses with their distinctive drying chimneys were built. Žatec became an “open-air factory.”

In 1884, the first hop exchange was founded here. Every gram of hops that left the city was officially certified – an early example of strict quality control.

Until World War II, Žatec was a center of Jewish life in northern Bohemia, which was closely linked to the hop trade. Many of the wealthy hop merchants were of Jewish descent.

The synagogue in Žatec is the second largest in Bohemia (after Pilsen). Although it was severely damaged inside during Kristallnacht in 1938, the building was preserved because there were fears that the fire would spread to the neighboring hop warehouses. Today, it is an impressive monument and cultural center.

In 2023, it was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. Not only the old town was honored, but the entire ensemble of hop cultivation, processing, and trade. It is the first time worldwide that a “beer landscape” has been awarded this status, officially sealing the historical significance of Žatec as the world capital of hops.

Places of interest in Žatec

Žatec offers visitors a comprehensive experience on the theme of hops. The Hop Museum is the largest of its kind in the world and shows the development of hop cultivation from the early Middle Ages to the present day. In the Temple of Hops and Beer (Chrám chmele a piva), visitors can enjoy a modern experience center with a viewing tower, an astronomical hop clock, and a brewery. The world’s smallest hop garden is located in the middle of the market square—a must for the obligatory vacation photo.

Culinary tips

In Žatec, beer is not just a drink, but a cultural treasure. Saaz hops are known for their delicate, noble bitter aroma. In local pubs, such as the Žatecký pivovar brewery or the brewery restaurant in the Temple of Hops and Beer, you can taste the freshness of the hops.

The cuisine is hearty. Traditional dishes include svíčková (beef tenderloin in cream sauce), crispy roast duck, and the famous Bohemian dumplings. Hops are often even creatively incorporated into the dishes.

Those who stay longer than a day will be surprised by the diversity of the surrounding area. Žatec is the ideal starting point for exploring the northwest of Czechia.

Places of interest in Žatec

Saaz Hop Museum: A journey to the origins of Bohemian beer

The Czech city of Žatec (in German: Saaz) is famous worldwide for its hops. Hops have been cultivated here since the early Middle Ages. Without these special, highly aromatic hops, the famous Pilsner beer would not exist in its current form. At the Hop Museum (Chmelařské muzeum), we were able to embark on an exciting…

Saaz Hop Museum   →

Book a place to stay

Zlatý Lev Žatec
Hotel Černý Orel Žatec
Hotel Golf Bitozeves– Simple and clean hotel with free parking (a little further away)

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