Stav: Gothic, Fortifications and Nature

Stav offers several distinct themes for your trip: Gothic architecture, a fortified site, archaeological traces, an old road and a natural monument. The Church of St. Peter and Paul offers an insight into 14th-century architectural history; the fortified site represents a possible former wooden fortress. The “U Jána” memorial adds a more recent point of remembrance. The epitaph and memorial represent two points of remembrance from widely separated periods: the epitaph dates from the second half of the 16th century, and the memorial’s features were unveiled on 9 June 2024.

Gothic Architecture and Church Furnishings

The Church of St. Peter and Paul is a Gothic building from the mid-14th century in the style of so-called Luxembourg Gothic. Its original rib vault and original tracery have been preserved. These architectural features provide concrete points of reference for understanding its classification: the ribs divide the vault, while tracery refers to finely crafted stone forms. Those interested in church architecture can consider the preserved forms as a subject in their own right, alongside the style and dating.

The furnishings include a stone baptismal font and an epitaph for two daughters of the Lords of Donín. The epitaph dates from the second half of the 16th century. An epitaph is a memorial; its dedication to the two daughters adds a personal point of remembrance to the building’s history. The church thus combines medieval architecture with a later memorial.

Fortified Site and Archaeological Traces

The fortified site has an oval inner area surrounded by a circular ditch and an outer rampart. Its layout can be understood as a defined core with two surrounding defensive features. It was probably a fortress built entirely of wood. Stav is also home to an archaeological site.

Old Road and Memorial

An old road runs from Zboží, above Úbislavice, through Stav to the “Na špici” locality. Unlike the church and the fortified site, it is not a single structure but a road connecting places along a route through Stav.

At the “U Jána” memorial, a newly forged cross, a bench, an information board and an avenue of 13 lime trees were ceremonially unveiled on 9 June 2024. This specific date adds a more recent point of reference alongside the medieval and early modern dates associated with the church. This also makes it possible to understand Stav through named places and points of remembrance.

Stav Natural Monument

The Stav Natural Monument protects an epigenetic stream valley with remnants of original beech forests and a herb layer. For travellers interested in landscapes and plants, this perspective complements Stav’s architectural and archaeological themes.

Discover more destinations: Drevenice, Soberaz, Úlibice, Úhlejov, Vršce, Nova Paka, Bukvice, Veliš U Jičína

For the broader travel overview: Okres Jičín.