Běhařov

Běhařov is a small municipality and village in the Klatovy District, in the Plzeň Region of the western Czech Republic. Sitting at around 485 metres above sea level, it counts fewer than 200 residents — a quiet corner of the Šumava foothills whose history stretches back to the Middle Ages, even though today's pace of life is entirely rural.

Where is Běhařov?

The village lies in the south-western part of the Czech Republic, in the Klatovy District, not far from the Bavarian border. Its old German name, Wihorschau, is a reminder of the mixed Czech-German population that once lived across this borderland region. The surrounding landscape is hilly, framed by forests and the gentle rises of the Šumava foothills.

What is the history of Běhařov?

Records first mention the settlement in 1352, by which point a small stronghold linked to the lords of Běhařov had already been built there. Ownership at that time was split three ways: land registers from 1379 list Bušek, Lvík and Sezema as holders of separate manorial shares, and their heirs kept control of the estate well into the early 1500s — making Běhařov a notable case of fragmented noble ownership typical of the Klatovy region.

The property resurfaces in the historical record centuries later. Toward the end of the 1800s, in 1889, a tenant named František Strouhal — arriving from nearby Opálka — took over the lease of the local residence; once he died, his widow kept it running until 1906. Ownership changed hands again in 1922, this time going to the painter Kalvoda, who acquired the building from the state land fund for 10,000 crowns. The following year he turned the place into a school of painting, and among those who trained there were the future painters Andrle and Života, giving this otherwise ordinary village an unexpected artistic chapter.

What can visitors see in and around Běhařov?

The former residence tied to the painting-school story remains the heart of the village, giving Běhařov an artistic footnote unusual for such a small place. Beyond that, Běhařov works mainly as a quiet base for exploring the sparsely populated Klatovy countryside — a good choice for anyone after walking or cycling routes through fields and forest in the Šumava foothills, away from the busier tourist trails.

Frequently asked questions

How many people live in Běhařov? Recent figures put the population at roughly 180–200, making it one of the smaller municipalities in the Klatovy District.

Where exactly is Běhařov located? In the Klatovy District, Plzeň Region, in the south-western Czech Republic, at an elevation of about 485 metres.

What is the story behind the residence in Běhařov? A stronghold already stood here in 1352, belonging to the lords of Běhařov. The property passed through several owners before the painter Kalvoda bought it in 1922 and turned it into a painting school.

Is there anything to visit in Běhařov? The main point of interest is the former residence linked to the painting school, along with the quiet surrounding countryside, good for walks in the Šumava foothills.