Vlásenice-Drbohlavy: Stream, Mill and Local History

Vlásenice-Drbohlavy offers several specific points of interest: the Hejlovka stream, the watermill at Mlýnský rybník, and the history of the village name. Drbohlavy also has a bell tower with an inscription. These topics offer different perspectives—from the local watercourse and milling technology to the dated history of the village.

The Stream and the Watermill

The Hejlovka stream flows through Vlásenice-Drbohlavy. The watermill, house number 14, stands at Mlýnský rybník. These are two specific local features: the stream running through the village and the mill’s location by the pond.

The mill’s historic equipment included a single wooden overshot waterwheel with two rims. It measured 4.14 m in diameter and had a clear width of 73 cm. “Overshot” describes a design in which water strikes the wheel from above; the term therefore describes how the water is supplied, not an additional machine. The wheel powered a Czech grinding mechanism and two stampers. The grinding mechanism and stampers represent different ways of working: the grinding mechanism is used for grinding, while stampers process material through repeated blows. Thus, both the specific wheel construction and the devices it powered form part of the mill’s technical profile.

The Village Name and Its Manorial History

The first recorded mention of Vlásenice dates from 1386. It refers to the historic name Vlásenice; the second part of the name, Drbohlavy, was added only in the second half of the 16th century. The manorial history is a separate matter: from 1386 to 1580, the manor farm and village belonged to the Božejov estate. The dates relate to different questions: 1386 marks the first mention and also the start of the stated period under that estate; 1580 marks its end, while the name was expanded in the second half of the 16th century. The village’s history can therefore be understood both through the development of its name and through the affiliation of the manor farm and village.

Bell Tower in Drbohlavy

The bell tower in Drbohlavy was built in 1986 and bears the inscription “I tobě jednou zazvoním.” The Czech sentence can be rendered approximately as “One day, I will ring for you too.” The year of construction provides a later point of reference than the medieval mention and the early modern development of the name. The tower adds a dated 20th-century structure and a specific linguistic detail to the older topics.

If you are looking for a hotel for a stay in Vlásenice-Drbohlavy, you can weigh your choice of destination according to your interests: the history of the name and the manor offers a historical focus, the mill a technical one, and the bell tower an architectural focus with an inscription. This comparison can help you view the village through the topic that matters most for your trip.

Discover more destinations: Martinice U Onšova, Křelovice, Polesi, Velká Chyška, Vysoká Lhota, Černovice, Castrov, Vyskytná

For the broader travel overview: Okres Pelhřimov.