Hradiště: Church, Archaeology and River Landscape

Three topics are particularly helpful for getting an overview of Hradiště: the Church of the Holy Trinity, the archaeological site and the Blanice river landscape. At the church, construction phases can be distinguished by the floor plan, tower and inscription; the site combines pottery finds with a distinctive terrain setting. Along the Blanice, protected species and wetland habitats add another dimension. Hradiště thus offers different perspectives on architectural history, archaeology and the natural environment.

The Church of the Holy Trinity

The Church of the Holy Trinity is the oldest building in Hradiště. It was remodelled in 1767 on a cruciform plan, using the tower of an older, probably medieval church. Set into the tower is a stone tablet bearing the year 1606 and three carved coats of arms.

For chronological context, the remodelling, tower and tablet should be considered separately: 1767 marks the remodelling, while the stone tablet bears the date 1606. The tower comes from an older church, whose medieval dating is probable. The floor plan, reused building element and inscription are therefore distinct clues to the building’s history, not a single construction date.

Archaeological site and spur

The Hradiště archaeological site is classified as a settlement, church site, hilltop settlement and fortified site, and is designated an important archaeological locality. Surface finds include pottery dating from the 11th to the 16th century; some fragments may also date from the 10th century. This possibility applies to individual pieces and remains uncertain, while the pottery from the 11th to the 16th century forms part of the stated finds.

The site lies on a narrow, elongated spur with rocky slopes above the left bank of the Blanice and a small tributary. It is 40 to 50 metres above the Blanice. The location and finds offer different clues: the terrain description identifies the site’s shape and elevation, while the pottery finds provide a chronological framework. The classifications describe further aspects of its archaeological interpretation.

The Blanice as a natural environment

The Vlašimská Blanice Site of European Importance covers the Blanice River between Vlašim and Mladá Vožice. It protects the brook lamprey (Lampetra planeri), the hermit beetle (Osmoderma eremita), the thick-shelled river mussel (Unio crassus) and the Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra).

Along the Blanice are streamside floodplains, wet meadows and, in places, stands of tall sedges. The river’s natural character provides habitat for numerous animal and plant species that have become rare or are rare in the surrounding landscape. The protected species and the habitats described offer two perspectives on the natural environment: one on its wildlife, the other on the conditions along the river.

Historic routes along the Blanice

The historic long-distance Vitorazská route ran along the Blanice through central Posázaví and continued via Český Šternberk to Kouřim. This gives the river a connection to regional route history as well as its importance as a natural environment. Together with the church’s architectural history and the archaeological finds, this historic route adds another theme through which Hradiště can be understood.

Discover more destinations: Vsetice, Záhorí, Popovice, Šetějovice, Zdislavice, Čeřenice, Mezno, Libohošť

For the broader travel overview: Okres Benešov.