Discover Stav: Gothic architecture, fortified area and natural monument

Stav brings together several clearly distinct facets: medieval ecclesiastical architecture, traces of a fortified site, an archaeological site and a natural monument with remnants of primeval beech forests. If you are looking for a place in the Czech Republic with cultural and landscape connections for your trip, Stav thus offers a range of themes to explore for yourself.

Gothic church with original details preserved

The Church of St. Peter and Paul in Stav is a Gothic building from the mid-14th century in the style of the so-called Luxembourg Gothic. The original ribbed vault and original tracery have been preserved inside the church.

The furnishings also include a stone baptismal font and an epitaph for two daughters of the Lords of Donín from the second half of the 16th century. The epitaph points to the regional history of noble families, while the baptismal font preserves a tangible testimony to the church's use.

Fortified area and archaeological traces

Another historical feature is the fortified area in Stav. Its oval interior is surrounded by a continuous ditch and an outer rampart. The shape of the terrain is therefore just as much a part of the historical record as its presumed function: the fortified area was presumably a fortress built exclusively of wood. This qualification is an integral part of the historical account and should be retained when interpreting it.

In addition, the archaeological site in Stav is classified as a significant archaeological locality. It adds another layer to the visible structural traces of the area's history. Those interested in historical places can therefore compare different forms of the past in Stav: the preserved furnishings of the church, the terrain structure of the fortified area and the scientifically classified archaeological site.

Natural monument with a stream valley and remnants of beech forest

In addition to its historical themes, Stav also has a clear connection to the landscape. The Stav Natural Monument protects an epigenetic stream valley with remnants of primeval beech forests and a herb layer. The term epigenetic stream valley describes a valley formed by a stream cutting down into the underlying ground. Together with the beech forest remnants, this creates a natural area whose distinctiveness lies not only in the shape of the valley, but also in the preserved components of its vegetation.

Thus, two different ways of experiencing the area stand side by side in Stav: historical evidence revealed through buildings, terrain forms and archaeological classification, and a protected landscape with a stream valley and woodland remnants. This combination may play a role when choosing accommodation in Stav if you would like to connect the cultural history of the place and observing nature thematically during the same trip, without reducing the area to just one attraction.

Historic routes and a more recent memorial marker

An old road runs from Zboží above Úbislavice through Stav to the locality of “Na špici”.

A much more recent date is associated with the “U Jána” memorial site: on 9 June 2024, a newly forged cross, a bench, an information board and an avenue of 13 lime trees were officially unveiled there. The event does not mark a medieval part of the area's history, but shows that contemporary forms of remembrance are also made visible in Stav. For a trip with an interest in regional stories, this creates a chronological arc from the Gothic church and the presumed wooden fortress to a memorial site dating from 2024.

If you would like to compare other places in this selection with Stav, you can then view Brada-Rybníček, Markvartice U Sobotky, Vysoké Veselí, Kopidlno, Drevenice, Rokytňany, Třebnouševes and Kněžnice.

For the broader travel overview: Jičín District.