Hradiště: Celtic Heritage and Šumava Landscape

In Hradiště, the picturesque landscape of the last foothills of the Šumava combines with a remarkable cultural history. Numerous small ponds lend the village a special charm. At the same time, the Celtic cultural site Na šancích and the Chapel of the Virgin Mary offer different historical perspectives. If you would like to combine nature, history and an active tour of discovery, you will find several distinct points of interest here to incorporate into your travel planning.

Celtic Heritage near Hradiště

Northwest of Hradiště lies the Celtic cultural site Na šancích near Hradiště u Malovic. It is a remarkable prehistoric monument that bears witness to the social and spiritual life of the prehistoric Celts. At the same time, it is a rare example of a quadrilateral hill fort in the Czech Republic, with a high degree of preservation. The rectangular layout measures 120 by 90 metres. The eastern rampart is particularly impressive: it is the best preserved and reaches a height of up to 1.2 metres.

Na šancích therefore offers more than just a place name to include in your travel planning. Its clearly preserved layout and surviving sections of rampart make the site a specific destination for anyone who wants to discover prehistoric traces not only in museums but also in the landscape.

Chapel of the Virgin Mary on the Village Green

Another historical aspect of Hradiště is represented by the Chapel of the Virgin Mary on the village green. It was built in 1899. Its location on the village green and its year of construction add another historical reference to the villagescape alongside the prehistoric cultural site. If you would like to compare different periods during your stay, the chapel is therefore one of the village’s distinct cultural points of interest. The juxtaposition of the prehistoric site and the chapel built in 1899 brings together two clearly different historical periods in the villagescape of Hradiště.

Landscape and Cycling Route

Hradiště is situated in the picturesque landscape of the last foothills of the Šumava. Numerous small ponds lend the surrounding area a special charm and complement the historical destinations with a focus on the landscape. Hradiště u Malovic is also a stop on the Historická krajina Netolicko route. The associated cycling educational trail forms an approximately 50-kilometre-long circular route through the region’s sights. It comprises a total of 16 stops with information boards in three languages. This allows you to combine a cycling tour with regional history and several thematic stopping points.

This provides several clearly recognisable themes for different travel interests: Celtic heritage, the chapel on the village green, the pond landscape and the Historická krajina Netolicko route. Hradiště is accessible by bus and can therefore also be included in your travel planning without travelling by car.

Further Places for Your Research

For further travel planning, you can also visit Hracholusky, Šumavské Hoštice, Volary, Krtely, Žárovná, Bušanovice, Prachatice and Svatá Maří.

For the higher-level travel overview: Okres Prachatice.