Vyšehořovice – Medieval Traces and U skal

Vyšehořovice combines medieval architectural history, visible ruins and an unusual natural monument. If you would like to combine cultural and historical traces in the Czech Republic with a special natural feature, the town offers specific points of interest for planning your trip.

The Vyšehořovice Fortress

The fortress in Vyšehořovice was built in the 14th and 15th centuries and served as the seat of the Vladiks of Vyšehořovice. Originally, the complex measured 30 × 40 metres. A high wall surrounded the complex, which included a residential palace, utility buildings and a tall tower; the fortress was additionally protected by a moat. The dimensions and combination of wall, moat and tower convey the defensive character of the complex, while the residential and utility areas also indicate its use as a manorial residence. Today, it stands on the grounds of a former agricultural operation, now a private farm, and is not open to the public. This distinction is important for your planning: the fortress forms part of the town’s history, but cannot be planned as a publicly accessible sightseeing spot.

St. Martin’s Church and the Bell Tower

The ruin of the Romanesque-Gothic St. Martin’s Church is the oldest surviving building in Vyšehořovice. It was founded by the Vyšehrad Chapter at the beginning of the 14th century and consecrated in 1329. The original church consisted of a square presbytery with a ribless cross vault and a rectangular, flat-roofed nave; today, only a small part of the nave remains. It is precisely this combination of dating, architectural form and surviving remains that makes the church ruin an informative destination for travellers interested in culture.

The late Gothic-Renaissance bell tower is also part of the town’s history. The massive four-sided structure has large Gothic pointed-arch windows and an attic parapet. In 1677, the bell tower was burned down by Swedish troops and burned along with the church and a large part of the town. The ruin thus points to a specific historical turning point and complements the medieval traces of the fortress and church with another distinctive building.

The U skal Nature Monument

The protected U skal Nature Monument is located in the southern part of the cadastral territory of Vyšehořovice. U skal is a unique and exceptionally species-rich site of fossilised plants from the Upper Cretaceous, of worldwide significance. The nature monument lies on the south-western edge of Vyšehořovice on the left bank of the Výmola stream. It can be accessed via an unmarked forest path. This specific route information is one of the important orientation points if you would like to prepare the nature-related part of your stay.

Getting Your Bearings and Further Destinations

Vyšehořovice has bus connections to Prague, Čelákovice, Brandýs nad Labem and Český Brod. This gives you several starting points for planning regional travel, while the town’s history and U skal offer different focuses for a stay.

Other destinations for planning your trip include Strancice, Nove Jirny, Nehvizdy, Záryby, Panenské Břežany, Nová Ves, Husinec and Zeleneč.

For the broader travel overview: Praha-Východ District.