Dobrejovice: Chapel, Burial Mounds and Hillfort

Dobrejovice brings together well-dated village history and archaeological traces from widely separated periods. The chapel was built in 1870 and 1871; the present-day municipal area contains around 14 burial mound fields with approximately 143 burial mounds. Hradec u Dobřejovic adds a hillfort above the right bank of the Vltava. The subjects thus range from an individual building to a larger archaeological landscape.

Chapel and Village History

The chapel in Dobrejovice is dedicated to Saint John of Nepomuk. It was built in 1870 and 1871; it was consecrated on 29 May 1871, the middle day of the Whitsun holidays. This allows the construction period to be distinguished from the consecration date: the first two years describe the building work, while the specific date places the consecration in the festive calendar.

The former school building dates from 1901. One part is now a pub, and another houses a library. Its present-day use is thus divided between two functions, while the construction year marks an earlier chapter in the village’s history. Dobrejovice also has a children’s playground.

Burial Mounds from Several Periods

The present-day municipal area of Dobrejovice contains around 14 burial mound fields with approximately 143 burial mounds. Their time span extends from the Bronze Age to Slavic culture. The approximate figures indicate the scale, while the range of periods shows the historical breadth. The scope is also important: these figures refer to the municipal area, not to a single archaeological site. They complement the specific account of the Hradec u Dobřejovic hillfort, whose measurements should be considered separately.

Burial mounds and hillforts represent different archaeological forms: for the burial mounds, the number and time span help put them into context; Hradec can be described by the shape of its ramparts, its area and its ditch. One perspective focuses on the breadth of periods, the other on the layout of a single structure.

Hradec u Dobřejovic: Hillfort on the Vltava

Hradec u Dobřejovic is an elongated oval hillfort above the right bank of the Vltava. Three parallel stone ramparts, up to one metre high, enclose an area of about one hectare. The outer rampart has a circumference of 626 metres; a ditch lies between the two outer ramparts. The area and the rampart circumference refer to different things: about one hectare describes the enclosed space, while 626 metres describes the outer boundary. This distinguishes the size of the area from the circumference of the outer rampart.

The Hradec u Dobřejovic hillfort is considered inaccessible because of the new Poněšice game reserve. Before planning a visit, check locally whether access is possible.

Historical Interests and Accommodation

The historical sites mentioned here belong to different time scales. The chapel and school building have specific construction years, while the burial mounds date from the Bronze Age to Slavic culture. This will help you decide whether Dobrejovice suits your travel interests.

For a broader travel overview: Hosín.