Hop and Beer Festival in Žatec: A Guide to the Legendary Žatecká Dočesná

Every year on the first weekend of September, the Žatecká Dočesná, the largest hops and beer festival in the EU, takes place in Žatec (Saaz). The historic town of Žatec (Saaz) transforms into a massive festival mile to celebrate the end of the hops harvest.

More Than Just Pivo: What to Expect at the Hops and Beer Festival in Žatec

As fans of Czech beer, it was clear to us: we couldn’t miss this date. Although we looked for accommodation in the town almost four months in advance, everything was already fully booked, so we stayed in a small village slightly outside the town.

The festival takes place over two days throughout the entire historic city center and is free to enter. The center is divided into several zones, each offering completely different main attractions.

Náměstí Svobody: Party, Rock, and Prague Ham

Pop and rock concerts, as well as the official opening ceremonies, take place here. There are numerous vendor stalls set up around the square. In addition to beer from numerous regional breweries, there is typical Czech street food like Prague Ham, Klobása (sausage), or sweet Lángos and Trdelník. We ate a thick, terribly greasy sausage here, which provided the ideal foundation for the beers. Price-wise, the food selection was appropriate for an event like this.

Square of Prokop the Great (Prokopa Velkého): The Heart of Brewing Tradition

Located right next to the Hops Museum is the folklore area, featuring a program closely centered around brewing tradition. We spent most of our time here. Numerous small breweries have set up stalls and offer their beers. We were able to sit in the sun on beer benches and didn’t have to walk far to the beer stalls.

During the event, the breweries offer “small” 0.3l beers and “large” 0.5l beers. My tip: Choose the small beer. The day is long, the selection is huge, and I would have liked to try one or two more beers (but at some point, you just have to stop).

There is a reusable cup system for the beer. You pay a one-time deposit for a cup. When you order a new beer, you get a fresh cup in exchange. At the end, you can return the cup to any beer stall you like and get your deposit back.

Around the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary

The ideal place for families. A special children’s program with games and attractions is offered there. This area features brightly flashing, loud rides, and it smells of cotton candy and roasted almonds. Beer is not sold in this area (or we missed it). This section reminded me much more of a funfair and less of a hops and beer festival.

Time Travel in Dvořákova Street: Medieval Market

Medieval craftsmanship takes center stage on this street. Jugglers and historical scenes transport the visitor back to bygone times. Additionally, vendors offer handicrafts that I found very hard to walk past.

Our Highlights: From the Hops Knight to the Astronomical Clock

The Knighting Ceremony: An emotional moment when a deserving hop farmer is ceremoniously knighted.

Hops Competitions: Watch the fun competitions, like hand-picking hops or dancing with a full beer mug on your head.

The Astronomical Hops Clock: Watch the glockenspiel on the Temple of Hops and Beer, which depicts the life cycle of hops.

What Else There is to See

In the morning, while the brewers were still setting up their stalls, we took a look around the town. Our tip: A visit to the Hops Museum (the largest of its kind worldwide) or the Hops Lighthouse, from which we had a great view over the UNESCO World Heritage town.

Visitors should also seek out the “Tomb of Homo Lupulus” (Hops Man). This is a humorous installation near the Plague Column on the market square, based on an alleged discovery on April 1, 2001. The skeleton was found with a beer mug and a clay tablet reminiscent of a modern beer mat.

Conclusion: Is the Trip to the EU’s Largest Beer Festival Worth It?

Honestly, I hadn’t imagined this festival to be so big and crowded. Unfortunately, on the first day, the traditional feeling and the actual purpose of “celebrating the end of the hops harvest” got a bit lost. It was really more of a massive, beer-heavy folk festival. On the second day, when we were unfortunately no longer there, a parade with children’s groups and the hops competitions took place.

We thoroughly enjoyed tasting the excellent beers from smaller breweries in the region. It is only at events like this that we discover breweries we would have otherwise completely overlooked.

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