Žatec and the Landscape of Saaz Hops

Czech hops

Traditional, smooth, aromatic and guaranteed to give beer a superb flavour and fragrance. That perfectly describes Czech hops, and especially the king of hop varieties, Žatec semi-early redbine hop – Saaz. The Žatec region has a hop-growing tradition that dates back as far as the Middle Ages and over the centuries Žatec has become a hop metropolis. During that time a unique landscape has emerged that is dedicated to the cultivation of hops; the very best varieties originated here and people built towns literally designed around the hop processing industry.


 

Žatec, a hop-growing metropolis with the smallest hop garden in the world

The town showcases a unique hop-growing legacy that exists nowhere else in the world: besides the historical centre, hop stores and old drying and packing plants, Žatec also has a number of other heritage sites with industrial architecture. It even has the smallest hop garden in the world! Not far from Žatec, near the village of Stekník, there stands a Rococo château with an Italian-style terraced garden, making for a unique composition in this landscape filled with hop fields.

Where’s good place to learn more about hops

• The Brewing Museum in Žatec near the Žatec Brewery, which offers a look back at the history of breweries past and present in this hop-growing region. It also offers a tour that takes in both the museum and the brewery, including a tasting session. 
• Hop Museum - the largest exhibition of its kind in the world is located in preserved authentic historical hop industry buildings and tells you everything there is to know about Žatec hops. 
• Temple of Hops and Beer with the Hop Lighthouse viewing tower, Hop Astronomical Clock and a hop maze. There, you’ll find out why the Saaz hop thrives only in the Žatec region. 
• Renaissance Malt House with a malting exhibition and gallery.