Hradiště Pohansko Hillfort

Welcome to the place where history touches the earth and where every step you take can lead you to uncover the secrets of thousands of years ago. You are standing in front of one of the most important archaeological sites in our territory - outside the castle of Pohansko. Before we begin to discover ourselves, stop for a moment and look around you. Feel the atmosphere of this place. Do you see the vast green plain and feel the proximity of the Dyje River? It was this strategic location, this split between the shoulders of the river, that was the key to why it was here more than one thousand years ago that it decided to build the center of the power world.

Look at the surrounding landscape. This country that you are now circumventing has not always been as calm and green as you know it today. In the ninth century, this area was the heart of Great Moravia. Imagine that right here, in this vast area, which is situated on an incredible 50 hectares, the heart of that state was pounding. pagan was not just a common fortified residence. It was a major power and craft center, probably the seat of the rulers themselves from the mighty House of the Izmir. Imagine the business at the time, the sound of the hammers of craftsmen, the voices of people from all over the region, and the presence of the noble courts that once stood here.

Now pay close attention to how this place was built. Even if you see primarily natural shapes and archaeological remains today, you have to draw in your mind a huge range of the buildings at the time. The central part of the castle was the heart of the complex. There was a Grand Court, a church and a large burial ground. To protect these important places, it was surrounded by two bays. This whole system was protected by an incredible wall. Imagine a wooden-clay structure, which was supplemented with a front-stone diaper. This defensive line was incredibly long, exactly one thousand nine hundred and fifty meters. This was a real architecture of huge proportions, which had to face not only enemies, but also elements.

In your next tour of the campus, notice how people were able to align with nature at the time and use it to their advantage. The fort was built to take advantage of the natural advantages of the river Dyje, which served as a natural gate and protection. Even if you don't see the tall walls with your own eyes today, their trail is still visible in the very structure of the terrain.

But in order to learn about this place at all, we need to look at people who have tried to bring these layers of history back to light. Archaeology is a patient science that requires not only courage but, above all, immense endurance. The whole modern story of this place began in the year one thousand nine hundred fifty-nine, when it launched the first systematic archaeological research František Kalousek. Thanks to his work and the subsequent work of other experts such as Bořivoj Dostál or Josef Hardmuth, we can reconstruct this history today.

Notice how it was gradually unveiling what the earth had been hiding for a thousand years. In ninety-eight, an archaeological exhibition was opened in a reconstructed castle, which enabled visitors to better understand what was once here. A few years later, in the year two thousand and three, a reconstruction of the great Moravian semi-ground, cult building and well was carried out. These small but essential details allow us to see the lifestyle of the people at the time - from their religious ceremonies to everyday needs, such as water extraction.

And this is where we come to one of the greatest mysteries and joys of all the archaeologists who worked here. Imagine the tension they must have felt when they came across something completely unexpected in the year two thousand eight. During the survey, the remains of the second church and another burial ground were discovered. This discovery was absolutely crucial. It has completely changed our knowledge of how significant and how well equipped this place really was. Turns out that Pohansko was much more complex and extensive than we could have ever imagined. This second church suggests that the fort was more densely populated and that its religious and social importance was even deeper than they originally thought.

Now, you're going to have to cover up for a moment what might have happened here. Imagine morning prayers at the churches at the time, procession at the courtyard of the Grand Court or silent ceremonies at the burial ground. Every find, every shrapnel of vessel or piece of iron found here by archaeologists is a piece of a puzzle that we're still composing. It's not just a pile of leftovers, it's a living book that's slowly opening up.

Now I want to invite you to continue this journey. Let the atmosphere of this place drift. See the surrounding terrain, see the space that used to fill walls and buildings. If you have the opportunity, visit the archaeological exhibition to help you visualize everything we've just talked about. Every inch of this compound has a story waiting for you.

Thank you for choosing this connection with the past. We hope that this view of the great Moravian era has brought you new views and that you enjoyed the walk of Pohansko Castle. We will brigade you a pleasant further discovery and beautiful moments in this historic landscape. Goodbye.