HoVO4 single crystals were grown by the Czochralski method. The crystals were transparent. EPR spectra of the well oriented crystals were recorded as a function of the applied magnetic held. Besides Ho3+, V4+ ions were detected. EPR-NMR program was applied to find spin Hamiltonian parameters of Ho3+ ions. Absorption, excitation and photoluminescence spectra were measured, revealing the presence of electronic transitions characteristic for Ho3+ ions. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.