Tracing Celts in our region means to transfer ourselves into times approximately two and half thousand years ago. The tribe of the Boii, which was gradually infiltrating into forests of Gabréta hylé - Šumava, Bavorský and Český les. In the language of Celts it meant the Ibex Forest or Sheep Mountains. Let‘s visit places which aren‘t known very much so far, but for this reason they are even more mysterious. We can start with one of the highest placed oppidum in Bohemia – Sedlo at Sušice.

 

The Oppidum Sedlo
One of the highest placed oppidum in Bohemia (902 above sea level) is located on two peaks of different heights and the gap between them. It spreads in almost one hectare area. It consits of rock and cliffs interconnected by a forcible stone rampart 13 m wide and 10 m high from the outside. The length is more than 900 m. Some of the archeological research showed that it was built about the 10th century BC and most finds come from 2 – 1 century BC, which means the period of Celtic settlement. You can set out for the oppidum from Sušice, the route is 8 km long.
 

 

The Giant Castle
It is supposed not to be a fortification, but an enclosure of a sacred place. The evidence of this is the fact that among archeological finds are not shatters of pots and kitchen leftovers, for instance bones. Also Gaius Julius Caesar noted in his “Memoirs of the Gaelic War“ that priests and judges of the Celts, druids, “meet in a certain time of the year… on a sacred spot… which is considered to be the heart of Gallia“. The Giant Castle is located on the border between Plzeň and South Bohemian regions, above the valley of the river Losenice near Popelná. The place can be approached from Nicov following the blue and yellow tourist marks to Popelná, then turn to the red tourist mark. Another approach is following the red tourist mark from Kašperské Hory (about 7 km), or from Churáňov (first the blue tourist mark, from Zlatá Studna the red mark – altogether about 10 km).

Other settlements and fortifications

Upper Settlement (Horní Hradiště) – the fortification with a preserved rampart of about 1 metre high. Can be easily approached from Plasy.

The Settlement Malechovská Hůrka – enclosed in two so far preserved rampart coils, 250 and 360 m long and even 4 m high, from about 700 BC. Can be easily approached from the village of Dolany.

The Settlement Radná (or Pustý zámek) – Acropolis fortificated by an earthen rampart with a wooden construction and a ditch. Can be easily approached from the village of Břasná.

The Settlement Holý vrch (Ovčí vrch, Spálený vrch) – a fortificated area about 4 ha, the rampart even 4 m high, easily approached from Chrást, in the town part of Zábělá turn left, on the road in the woods follow the educational forestry trail.

Magical and megalithic sights

Maxov Sanctuary – There is an ancient druid sanctuary in the centre of the village Maxov on the route Česká Kubice – Všeruby; it used to be in the middle of four lime trees, today there is a cross
 

 

The Hill Slunečná – North-East from Prášily – climbing is quite demanding because of many big stones and caverns – not far from the peak there is an energetically strong cluster of stones– well-known among the Celts
Žihelské Stones – a natural attraction, not very well-known. You get there following the road from Žihle to the guide-post, across the railway crossing follow the yellow tourist mark up the road along the rock formations Dědek and Bába, then turn to the 500 m far away meadow Uhlířská louka where can be seen a cluster of stones. After 1 km following the red tourist mark to the Glass-works you reach the Place of Sacrifying. The whole excursion is 12 – 14 km long, about 3 - 4 hours of walk.

Gold Fever
Celtic gold washing can be proved by a recent find of several shatters of the Celtic pottery from South-East corner of the Kašperské Hory mountains. The proof that the Celts washed gold in the upper Otava river can be a golden Celtic coins find in Kašperské Hory mountains and the town of Sušice from 2 – 1 century BC. In Podmokly in Rokycany district there were also some Celtic coins found in a bronze pot (on June 12, 1771). On the place of the find there is a small memorial with the year 1771. In the treasure, there where golden coins weighing 42,5 kg! The treasure was melted into other coin, mostly into Terezian and Fürstenberg ducats.

Excursion tips

On foot/on bike: Prášily, Gsenget (historical stone of Marie Terezie), Zlatý Stolec, Laka Lake, Former Hůrka (Ábel chapel), Vysoké Lávky (19 km)
 

 

Hauswald chapel: The place near Srní is again open to public, even to the disabled. You can get there from Srní following the blue tourist mark and then following the educational trail.

Modravský menhir: The starting point is a parking lot in Modrava, then to the right to the crossroad, follow the blue tourist mark to the stream Modravský potok, walk on the road for about an hour (c. 4 km), pass the stream over the iron footbridge and the place is reached after about two hundred metres.
 

 

Archeopark Prášily: Mapping and enliving the mysterious nation of the Celts which lived on the territory of Bohemia from 6 to 1 century BC – showing their lifestyle to the visitors and reconstructing a Celtic village. More on Boiohaemum.cz and Keltove.cz.
 

 

A German celtic open air museum Gabreta