Časy Between Village History and Cretaceous Geology

Časy: a small municipality with a surprising number of traces of the past

Časy combines a compact village history with a remarkable geological feature. The first written mention of Časy dates from 1494. Those interested in the development of a place will also find evidence of various periods here: in the 16th century, at least part of Časy belonged to the Cistercian monastery in Sezemice. The village has a bell tower dating from the mid-18th century. The village-square cross, or wayside shrine, in Časy is also listed as a cultural asset.

Village history, customs, and work in earlier times

The historical details make Časy more than a place whose significance can be reduced to a single attraction. Several different traces point to the life and development of the municipality. A series of Christmas carol lyrics typical of the municipality originated in Časy and was recorded by 1900. Alongside buildings, therefore, a regional tradition is also part of the history of the place.

Another historical note concerns the former brickworks in Časy. For a time, it was the most modern brickworks in the surrounding area. This description explicitly refers to an earlier period; the brickworks should be understood as a former facility. In addition, a hunt began near Časy. Such references supplement the better-known facts of the village's history with connections to crafts, everyday life, and activities from earlier times.

Geological locality with Cretaceous rocks

The Časy geological locality is particularly distinctive. It is registered as an interesting geological locality and is also an abandoned open-pit mine with exposures of Cretaceous sediments. An exposure is a site where geological layers are visible. The locality contains dark-gray calcareous claystones from the youngest Cretaceous deposits.

There are also two layers of calcareous sandstone containing muscovite and plant remains. This specific composition is what distinguishes the geological aspect from a general description of the landscape: in Časy, various rock characteristics and their constituent elements can be identified. A permit is required to drive to the geological locality by car. This note is relevant to planning a visit, without making any statement about other types of access or whether the site can currently be visited.

On the edge of the Polabian Lowland

Časy lies on the edge of the Polabian Lowland. The surrounding area includes fields and small wooded areas, so the village's history also has a clearly defined landscape setting. A marked local cycling route runs through Časy. This allows you to combine different priorities when planning your trip: cultural and historical discoveries, geological topics, and a bike ride through the village. Which of these aspects takes center stage depends on how you wish to shape your stay.

Other places to help you get oriented

If you would like to explore other places besides Časy, you can also visit Zdechovice, Černá U Bohdanče, Křičeň, Pravy, Srch, Chvojenec, Hrobice, and Kladruby Nad Labem.

For the broader travel overview: Pardubice District.