Vladař Hillfort

Welcome here, to the top of one of the most significant dominance in this country. You're standing in front of Vladař, a place that keeps secrets for thousands of years. You've probably noticed that you're not on an ordinary hill, but on a fascinating table mountain that rises to an altitude of six hundred ninety-three meters. Feel the space around you, the open view and silence that rules this place today. In front of you is a space that was once a noisy, lively and powerful center of the entire region. Even if you see at first sight at first sight mainly nature and terrain formations, the history of one of the most important Celtic communities sleeps under your feet.

Let us now return together in time, deep into the past, namely the fifth and fourth century BC. It was at this time that the castle Vladař experienced its greatest bloom. The Celts, the people known for their skill in craft and trading, have chosen this very strategic position for their headquarters. Why here? The answer is in the form of a table mountain itself. Such a place provided natural protection and an incredible overview of the surroundings. Vladař was not just an ordinary village, but probably served as a power center. So imagine that you have just entered the administrative and spiritual heart of the entire region, where the fate of the people, where the trade took place and where the power of the local elite was concentrated.

Now pay attention to the terrain around you. Although time and human activity from Railsa have erased clear contours, you can still see the trail of brilliant Celtic engineering here. Notice the extensive system of fortifications surrounding this mansion. Try to reconstruct the walls that once stood here. It wasn't just a simple wall, it was a massive structure about eight meters wide. Imagine how much work, sweat, and the efforts of thousands of hands were needed to build walls in this terrain, whose outside side was more than four metres tall. These walls formed an impenetrable ring that protected the people from attacks from the outside while demonstrating the power and wealth of the ruler.

If you move further, focus on the acropolis area. Acropolis was the highest and most important point of the castle, a place where the most important buildings were probably located and where the highest layer of society was located. It's the heart of the complex. But it is important that you know that what you see today is just a shadow of former glory. Over the centuries, this site has been significantly damaged. The agricultural activity that has developed in the area and, unfortunately, illegal excavations from the past have destroyed some of the original structures. Yet even in these remains, the incredible atmosphere of the place that once dominated the surrounding landscape remains.

Who told you about this place before modern science? Let's stop at a historical personality. The first written mention of the castle Vladař appears only in the 16th century in a chronicle written by Václav Hájek z Libočan. Imagine how fascinating it must have been for the chronicler of that time to write down the existence of this mysterious place, which was already a long forgotten ruin at his time. It is because of such records that people have maintained the awareness that there once was something extraordinary on this mountain. The road to modern understanding Vladaře was however long. It was only in the year nine hundred and fifty-eight that the site was officially declared a cultural monument, which protected it from further destruction. And if you're interested in how we know today about the broad walls and acropolis, it's thanks to the systematic archaeological research and the search for the wall that started in 2,000 two years. Archaeologists here patiently uncovered layers of the earth to tell us a story that had been silent for millennia.

Now I want to take you to one of the greatest mysteries and most dramatic moments in the history of this place. All those years of flourishing, building massive walls and feeling safe ended very suddenly and violently. Around 200 BC, the development of the castle was abruptly interrupted. What happened? Archaeological findings indicate a devastating fire that engulfed the fort. Imagine the chaos, the flames spreading between the houses and the fall of the walls that were meant to be bulletproof. It was the end of the Vladař era as a power center. Why did this happen? Whether it was a planned attack by the enemy, or an unfortunate accident, remains a question that continues to accompany the research of this place. This sudden demise adds Vladaři a certain touch of tragedy and mystery that you can feel even today when you're standing here in the silence of nature.

Now that you know the story of this place, I suggest you continue to explore the area at your own pace. Try to stop, close your eyes and listen to the wind. Imagine what people's voices sounded like two thousand years ago, how cars moved and how walls protected thousands of people. Feel the contrast between today's calm and the ancient energy of the power center. Go through the acropolis space, think about the dimensions of ancient walls and be inspired by the history that is carved into the very rock of this table mountain.

Thank you for spending time with us at Vladař. We hope this short trip to the Celtic past has helped you better understand the importance of this unique archaeological site. We wish you a pleasant further journey and many new discoveries in your discovery of the beauty of our region. Goodbye.