Šťáhlavy, Plzeň-City dist., Plzeň Region

The ‘František Xaver Franc Archaeological Nature Trail’ commemorates the prominent 19th-century amateur archaeologist. The trail runs through ‘Kozel’ forest, the site of a remarkable range of preserved prehistoric and medieval relics. The local landscape was preserved so well because it has been covered by a forest since the 15th century. Visitors pass through an Eneolithic hilltop settlement and a Bronze and Iron Age barrow cemetery. Next to these, medieval features such as hollow ways, ponds, fields, a gold panning site, a deserted village, a fortified manor and a castle with a siege camp may be seen, as well as some remnants of Early Modern forest crafts.

References: Franc 1906; Anderle 1996; Šmejda 2003; Novobilský 2008; Metlička 2010; www_Šťáhlavy.

Navigation points: N 49°39'49.91", E 13°33'23.41" (‘Lopata‘ castle); N 49°39'58.69", E 13°33 29.73" (Medieval siege camp); N 49°40'13.39", E 13°33'07.84" (deserted Medieval village ‘Dolní Nestajov‘); N 49°39'59.45", E 13°32'49.05" (barrow cemetery ‘Hájek‘).