About this place
The Monument to the Peasant Rebellion – pylon and chapel stands on Ovčí vrch hill (697 m above sea level) near the village of Kokašice, in the Tachov district of the Plzeň Region. The site commemorates a peasant uprising violently crushed in 1680, and it combines two elements: a stone pylon and a small chapel at the top of the hill.
What happened on Ovčí vrch in 1680?
On May 6, 1680, serfs of the Bezdružice estate rose up against their lord, Kryštof of Heissenstein. According to tradition, around 500 rebels led by Hans Muck of Zhořec took refuge and dug in on the summit of Ovčí vrch. Lacking regular weapons, the peasants improvised cannons from cherry-wood trunks bound with iron hoops. In the evening, around 6 p.m., two cavalry companies stormed the hill, supported by artillery fire from the nearby Švamberk castle (Krasíkov). The clash left 49 peasants dead and 20 wounded, while no casualties were recorded on the military side.
Where did the chapel next to the pylon come from?
Marie Františka of Heissenstein commissioned a chapel between 1680 and 1681, known as the Chapel of the Deadly Anguish of Christ. The foundation also endowed an annual memorial mass held every May 31, the anniversary of the events. The building takes the form of a cylindrical rotunda and stands on a flat terrace just below the hill's main summit. After the chapel was closed in 1787, it fell into disrepair; it was only restored in 1930, on the initiative of Prince Löwenstein. After 1945, its interior furnishings — gilded candelabras and sculptures of the apostles — were destroyed.
What is the stone pylon, and what did archaeological research reveal?
Next to the chapel stands a stone cairn — a granite pylon commemorating the peasant uprising. Archaeological examination of the chapel's altar uncovered traces of antimony ore, identical to deposits found in an abandoned mine shaft near the hill. This discovery suggests that mining activity was also carried out around Ovčí vrch at that time (roughly 1680), which may be connected to the local peasant population's resources and resolve.
What else is worth seeing nearby?
Close to Ovčí vrch lie the ruins of Krasíkov castle, also known as Schwamberg or Švamberk — the very fortress from which artillery fire was directed at the rebelling peasants in 1680. Thanks to its elevation and views, Ovčí vrch itself is today a popular destination for hikers exploring the area around Konstantinovy Lázně.
How to get there, and what to know before visiting?
Ovčí vrch lies directly adjacent to the village of Kokašice, from which marked hiking trails lead up to it. Both the chapel and the pylon stand in open terrain, freely accessible to visitors. It's worth planning the visit as part of a longer hike combining the hill with the ruins of Krasíkov castle.
Frequently asked questions
What does the monument on Ovčí vrch commemorate? The monument — a pylon and a chapel — commemorates the peasant uprising of 1680, which was crushed with 49 serfs of the Bezdružice estate killed.
When was the chapel next to the monument built? The chapel was built between 1680 and 1681, funded by Marie Františka of Heissenstein, and was restored in 1930.
Are there other historical sites nearby? Yes, the ruins of Krasíkov castle (Švamberk) lie close by — the same fortress from which artillery was fired at the rebelling peasants in 1680.
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