This St. Patrick’s Day Weekend Visit an Ancient Celtic Site In Prague

The historical link between the two European nations has considerably more ancient origins. In fact, Celts were said to have migrated across Europe from Bohemia 2,000 years ago, settling in Ireland, France, and Slovakia.

Evidence of its Celtic past is still visible throughout the Czech lands. In Prague, on the right bank of the Vltava river opposite Zbraslav, traces of a significant Celtic settlement, known as the Zavist-Hradiště oppidum, were unearthed by archeologists between 1963 and 1989.

The large fortified area was at one time thought to have accommodated up to 40,000 inhabitants, spanning a maximum area of 170 hectares surrounded by 9 km of ramparts. The stronghold encompassed both residential and utility buildings, an acropolis with a cult area in Hradiště.

The Celts perfected the art of jewelry making, searching for gold dust in the sands of the rivers and exchanging their products for food.

The inhabitants of the stronghold were mainly engaged in crafts and depended on the agricultural production of the surrounding population because they did not cultivate their own land.

Considered the largest of its kind in Central Europe, the oppidum was likely invaded by German tribes. It was declared a national cultural monument in 1998 and can still be visited today.