Pitch oven in Plzeň, Historical kiln in Bolevec district, Plzeň, Czech Republic.

The pitch oven in Bolevec is a cone-shaped kiln built of rough local arkose stone, partly sunk into a slope so it could be loaded from above. Only the outer shell, called the okolnice and over 6 m across, survives; the thinner inner wall collapsed. Three low brick-arched openings pierce its western base, and a metal grille now replaces the fallen dome.

This kiln was built during the industrial growth of Plzeň, when the city was expanding its range of local businesses and factories. It produced tar and similar materials that were needed by many industries across the region and beyond.

The kiln was part of the local craftsmanship that made Plzeň self-sufficient in processing its own materials for regional needs. Walking around it today, you can sense the practical focus of 19th-century industrial life in this district.

The kiln is easy to find in Bolevec since it sits near the main roads of the district and is walkable from most areas. It is best viewed from outside, where you can examine the stonework and layout without restriction.

The inner clay shell, or "hrnec", was only about 7 cm thick and has collapsed, but its brick floor survives, sloping west and slightly oval rather than round. The gap between the two shells is just 18 cm on the west side and 42 cm on the north, far narrower than the over 100 cm seen at other tar kilns.