Levý Hradec Gord

Roztoky, Czech Republic

Levý Hradec is an early medieval Bohemian gord situated 3 km northwest of Prague borders near Roztoky, in the Czech Republic. This fortified settlement served as the original seat of Bořivoj I, the first known Přemyslid ruler. It was built on a promontory on the left bank of the Vltava River approximately in mid-9th century.

The first Christian church was built here shortly after Bořivoj I converted to Christianity. This church was consecrated to St. Clement.

The first historical evidence concerning Levý Hradec comes from Kristián who wrote about the St. Clement church and its first priest Kaich. Kristián also mentions Saint Adalbert of Slavník's dynasty to be elected here into his bishopric office on 19 February 982.

Přemyslid dynasty left Levý Hradec at the beginning of the 10th century but it seems that settlement persevered as dense as in the 9th century. New building were constructed and fortifications regularly repaired.

The site was abandoned at the end of the 11th century as there is no further evidence of fortifications being repaired. Nevertheless, the reason why it happened so is still unknown.

The site was excavated as soon as the 19th century by archeologists Čeněk Rýzner and Josef Ladislav Píč. The main excavations took place in the 1930s and 1950s when Ivan Borkovský excavated the foundations of the original St. Clement church.

Near to Levý Hradec another early medieval fort has been first described by Josef Ladislav Píč. The excavations started there in 2000 discovered remains of much larger settlement than expected until then, comparable with Levý Hradec. The involved archeologists now assume this settlement is the Pravý Hradec (levý hradec means fort on the left sidepravý means on the right side), the fort mentioned in contemporary records but never identified.

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Details

Founded: 9th century AD
Category: Prehistoric and archaeological sites in Czech Republic

More Information

en.wikipedia.org

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User Reviews

Slavomir Trencan (2 years ago)
Beautiful women as a guide of the church. Every hour outside church on sat and sun giving a lot from the history.
Jaroslav Horák (5 years ago)
Marcel Ramdan is an excellent guide with a true passion for history and architecture. This is a mystical and fascinating place, the birthplace of Christianity in the Bohemian lands. You can also see the old rotunda Church below the one standing today. A nice view of the Vltava River
Roman Srp (6 years ago)
Celtic settlement and later Slavic castle of the Přemysl family - later king dynasty. Today cemetery with a Church which was build on on the place of a Roman basilica - grounds are till there. unique spirit and outlook on the river valley.
DebrZo (6 years ago)
In terms of historical value it is heavily underestimated as, in fact, it should be considered as what we call now "capital" or "hlavni mesto" of what is Czechia now. It was the seat of Saint Adalbert of Prague, where he was made a second bishop of Prague. There is a lot of history there and you can feel middle ages in the air although the present day building does not represent the roman style.
Tim Young (7 years ago)
This site, settled since prehistoric times, doesn't offer much to see now except the church, whose ninth century foundations can be seen together with a guide. But it is a beautiful place just outside Prague, looking down over the Vltava river. And it's also fundamental to the Czech nation, being as it is the first documented settlement of the Premyslids.
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