Hradiště Na Zámkách Hillfort

Welcome to the edge of something we no longer see with our eyes, but what we can feel in the earth itself under our feet. You are standing on the sharp top of Škrábek, in a place where the natural face of the landscape connects with the imprint of the human hand. In front of you is a view of the surrounding landscape and the depth of the valley in which the Radotín stream flows quietly. Feel this space, feel the air and the calm atmosphere that exists here. You are in a place called Hradiště Na Zámkách. Although at first glance it may seem to be just another piece of natural height, you are actually standing in a place that is a state-protected cultural monument and carries a deep, albeit silent, secret within it.

Look around you at these steep slopes. It is this natural protection, provided by the nature of the terrain, that was the most important element for the ancient people. This location was not chosen by accident. The height of this place, approximately 300 meters above sea level, offered not only a strategic view of the surroundings, but above all safety. Imagine how people settled here, how they used every inch of this one hectare that you're now walking around. Although the exact date of the first people on this hill remains in the fog of history, experts believe that the castle was used from the eighth to the twelfth century. It means that we move in times of early and high Middle Ages. It is a time when the foundations of our world were being formed, when the first solid settlements were being built, and when the borders between wilderness and civilization were still changing.

Now pay attention to what you see right below you and around you. Hradiště Na Zámkách is not a monumental stone building, which you could explore in detail in its working. It's more of a work of landscape architecture. Notice how natural steep slopes are supplemented with human effort. If you turn towards the east side, you can see traces of artificial fortification. Unlike other parts that rely on natural superiority, this party has been strengthened in the past by man. You'll see the remains of the ditch and the wall. These agricultural structures were the cutting edge of engineering at the time. Val wasn't just a pile of dirt, it was a symbol of strength and protection to repel enemies. Even though these shapes are now softened by time and vegetation, they still feel the original function - the function of defense and stability.

You may be asking who lived here. Who were those people who sought refuge on this hill in these times? Who made the decision that this very top of Scratch was the right place? Unfortunately, history has given us no names. We know no kings, no warlords, or any builders who would construct this castle. There are no written records to tell us more about them than just being here. We're alone with silence. This lack of specific personalities, however, gives the site a special quite, to mystical quality. We are not here as visitors to the memory of a famous hero, but as witnesses to the existence of entire communities whose lives, pleasures and fears have been imprinted in this country, but who have never been able to sign up for the chronicles.

And it is here that comes the greatest mystery of this place that should accompany you while you walk. Even though this fort is so important and yet so well preserved in the form of its earthly buildings, archaeology still refuses to reveal its greatest treasures to us. After the end of World War II, between a thousand and nine hundred and forty five and a thousand and nine hundred fifty, this site was discovered by archaeologists. Since then, there have been various surface surveys, people going through this country looking for clues of the past. And yet, despite all efforts, there was not a single object found that could let us know exactly how people lived here. No coins, no ceramic shards, no tools that were clearly dated.

Consider the idea: you are standing in a place that was a huge center of life, perhaps even a fortified fortress, and yet in an archaeological sense it is completely silent. It's like a book that has a beautiful bond and an interesting cover, but its pages are empty. Why is that? Maybe the country has been so carefully maintained here, or everything that people have created has gone back to the ground over time. Or maybe the secrets of this castle are still deep beneath your feet, waiting for the right moment to reveal itself. This emptiness in the records is paradoxically the greatest attraction. Hradiště Na Zámkách forces us to our own imagination. Makes us think about what can be hidden in the silence of the earth.

Now I want to invite you to continue your tour. Let yourself be guided by the terrain, walk around the edge of these old valleys and see how the view of the Radotín creek valley changes according to where you are. Try to perceive every inequality of the earth, every shadow cast on the slopes. Although there are no tall towers or decorative facades that you could photograph, this entire area of one hectare is one big monument. It's a monument to a human quest for safety and settlement in this country.

Look at the horizon, perceive the space, and remember that even if we don't know everything about this place, its presence is undeniable. It's part of our history, even if it's history that refuses to give up its secrets. Thank you for your time and for coming to see this place with your own eye. Read this space, feel its atmosphere and enjoy the peace this place offers you. Once again we welcome you to the castle castle and wish you the pleasant rest of your journey.