Kaplice Urban Monument Zone
The center is the square with a Renaissance town hall, a stone fountain, the column of a former pillory, and a house decorated with figural sgraffiti.
The first written mention of Kaplice dates back to 1257. The town developed at an important trade crossroads, and this strategic location influenced its further growth. Throughout its rich history, Kaplice changed ownership multiple times. It belonged to the Bavors of Strakonice, the Lords of Pořešín, the Rosenbergs, the Švamberks, and after the Battle of White Mountain, to the Buquoy family. It's no surprise that several valuable buildings from different architectural periods have been preserved in the town. Due to this concentration of heritage buildings, the historical core of Kaplice was declared an urban monument zone in 1990.
The oldest monuments in Kaplice are two churches located east of the square. The Church of St. Florian is a single-nave structure with Baroque furnishings. Its current form dates from the early 16th century, likely replacing an earlier Romanesque chapel. The Church of Sts. Peter and Paul is documented as early as 1383. Interestingly, the two churches stand side by side, which is highly unusual for a town the size of Kaplice and has sparked many theories and speculations.
The town square features not only the Renaissance town hall but also a notable stone fountain (1646) with the column of the former pillory, house no. 215 with figural sgraffiti, and house no. 206 with a stone portal. This building was originally a brewery, later served as a theater, and now its cellars house the Krampus Gallery with an exhibition of demonic masks and costumes.
