Kotlasy: History, Customs and Routes

Kotlasy brings together early records of its name, the village’s agricultural history and local customs with two routes that lead into the village. The Bohdalovský potok flows through Kotlasy; one of the routes follows a path near the stream to Kotlasy.

Place Names and Historical Agriculture

The first written reference to Kotlasy dates from 1317; at that time, the village name was written as “Gutlis.” A document from 1349 records the historical form “Chothloken.” The two records are 32 years apart. This makes it possible to distinguish two early forms of the name chronologically: Gutlis appears in the first written reference, while Chothloken appears in a later document. The dates refer to the surviving records and do not necessarily indicate when the village was founded.

The settlement’s historical economy was primarily agricultural. A three-field system was practiced, with rye and oats grown in particular. These details add a second perspective to the early forms of the name Kotlasy: they relate not only to the written record but also to the farming practices and crops of the village in the past.

Chapel and Local Customs

The Chapel of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary in Kotlasy dates from 1900. Regular services are not held there. If you plan to visit the chapel, check the latest parish information beforehand.

Local customs include the annual raising and felling of the Maypole, accompanied by a performance put on by local residents. If you would like to plan your trip around this event, check the dates beforehand. Easter rattling and clacking is also a local tradition. Another custom is the traditional burning of witches. These three customs combine an annual Maypole event with other cultural traditions of the village.

The Stream and Routes

The Bohdalovský potok rises in the Bohdalovské rybníky ponds, flows through Kotlasy and joins the Oslava in Ostrov. Its course provides a clear geographical reference: the ponds, the stretch through the village and the confluence with the Oslava are the three points along the stream mentioned here.

The circular route “Jarní Vysočinou kolem Rendlíčku” follows a path near the Bohdalovský potok to Kotlasy. Another route, “Toulání za pohádkovými bytostmi kolem Oslavy,” also leads to Kotlasy; its final section follows road II/388 back to Ostrov nad Oslavou. Different features are relevant when comparing the routes: the circular route follows a path near the stream, while the other route is defined by its final road section and its return direction to Ostrov. This allows you to compare the first route’s proximity to the stream with the other route’s specific road alignment.

Discover more destinations: Radostín Nad Oslavou, Dalečín, Strachujov, Velké Janovice, Měřín, Bolesín, Bobrůvka, Martinice

For the main travel overview: Žďár nad Sázavou District.