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Lhota u Dolních Břežan, Prague-West dist., Central Bohemian Region

Iron Age hillfort – oppidum ‘Závist’

(600–50 BC and other periods)

Relicts of major pincer gate.

Relicts of major pincer gate.

Photo A. Danielisová, 2014.

Thanks to long-term archaeological excavations, prehistoric ‘Závist’ hillfort is the best known La Tène oppidum in the country. The settlement reached its first heyday in the Late Hallstatt and the Early La Tène Periods, when it was one of the most prominent centres in the Bohemian basin, featuring contacts with western Europe, Italy and Greece. Dating to this period, for example, is evidence of the earliest monumental stone architecture in Bohemia. With all of its suburbs and annexes, the oppidum (existing between c. 150-50 BC) occupied an area of nearly 200 ha. Evident at the site today are the remains of several banks (relics of a wood and earth rampart with a front stone face) and gates (often ‘pincer’ type).

References: Motyková a kol. 1977, 1982, 1984, 1990; Drda – Rybová 1992, 1993, 1997, 2001.

Navigation points: N 49°58'18.58", E 14°23'59.61"; N 49°57'44.39", E 14°24'57.36"; N 49°57'25.68", E 14°23'48.42".

Relicts of major pincer gate.
Relicts of major pincer gate.
Photo A. Danielisová, 2014.
Oppidum's fortification.
Oppidum's fortification.
Photo J. Marounek, 2005.
Path through one of the oppidum's inner banks.
Path through one of the oppidum's inner banks.
Photo Z. Kačerová, 2014.
Fortification line.
Fortification line.
Photo Z. Kačerová, 2014.
Reconstruction of the main pincer gate of the first phase of oppidum's existence.
Reconstruction of the main pincer gate of the first phase...
After Drda – Rybová 1992.
View of the hillfort, taken from the other Moldau River bank.
View of the hillfort, taken from the other Moldau River b...
Photo Z. Kačerová, 2014.
Aerial view of the site Hradiště nad Závistí.
Aerial view of the site Hradiště nad Závistí.
Photo M. Gojda, 2011.
Aerial view of the oppidum, taken from southwest.
Aerial view of the oppidum, taken from southwest.
Photo M. Gojda, 2011.
Aerial view of the acropolis.
Aerial view of the acropolis.
Photo M. Gojda, 2011.

Map notes: A – gate A; D – main gate D of ‘pincer’ type; H – relief edge, originally the first line of fortifications; R – Early Modern redoubt; X – acropolis. Map symbols are available in the Downloads section.

Access map / site plan.
After Kuna et al. 2014.