Stehelčeves – Archaeology and Local History

Stehelčeves offers travellers interested in archaeology and local history several specific points of interest. The focus is on the archaeological hill of Homolka, the municipal chronicle and historic religious sites. If you are looking for a hotel in Stehelčeves, these topics can help you choose what to explore based on your interests.

Homolka: Settlement and Burial Ground

The archaeological hill of Homolka lies east of Stehelčeves; the Dřetovický stream borders it to the north. Homolka is classified as a Category I archaeological area and is considered an important archaeological site. The complex was a fortified settlement from the Eneolithic period. Its features included a palisade, a two-metre-wide ditch and gates.

The Homolka site also includes a small early medieval burial ground. Evidence from two different periods is therefore found here side by side: the fortified Eneolithic settlement and the early medieval burial ground. The types of evidence also differ: in chronological terms, the settlement complex is followed by a burial ground. Homolka thus brings together archaeological topics that are not limited to a single period.

Chronicle and Events in the Village

A special volume of the municipal chronicle documents life in the village since 1316. The first volume of the chronicle has been digitised and can be read on the municipality’s website. This written history of the village complements the archaeological perspective on Homolka with a different form of historical record. If you would like to learn more about the village before or during your stay, the digitised volume offers an opportunity to read about it.

Meetings about the municipal chronicle, open days and exhibitions are held in Stehelčeves every year. Specific event dates may vary; check the dates before your trip if an event will influence your stay. This lets you factor the recurring activities into your own schedule without assuming a specific event date.

Former Religious Sites

The former chapel near house No. 1 no longer stands. It was Late Baroque and contained a Late Gothic statue of Saint Peter and a bell dating from 1736. The dates refer to different elements: the Late Gothic style characterises the statue, while the year refers to the bell. Different artistic and historical periods thus come together at one historic site.

The former well of Saint John the Baptist in Na Brůdku is also part of the village’s religious history. During processions to the Church of Saint John the Baptist in the forest near Vrapice, it was the first stop. The well was damaged at the same time as the chapel. The two sites therefore represent different aspects of religious practice: the former chapel with its furnishings, and the well as a stop along a processional route.

Educational Trail and Circular Route

The Stehelčeves educational trail includes a long circular route with 13 stops. One stop on the long Stehelčevský okruh II circular route covers the design and importance of the biocorridor. The local history thus offers a landscape-focused theme in addition to archaeological and written-history topics.

The two route descriptions emphasise different things: the number of stops is given for the educational trail, while the topic of one stop is specified for Stehelčevský okruh II. Together with Homolka, the chronicle and the former religious sites, these provide a range of historical and landscape-related topics to help you shape your stay in Stehelčeves around your interests.

Discover more destinations: Sazená, Chržín, Klobuky, Černuc, Dřínov, Zlonice, Řisuty, Lány U Rakovníka.

For the broader travel overview: Kladno District.