In Neumětely, different periods of history come together: the parish Church of St Peter and Paul has a Gothic core, a bell bears an inscription from 1637, and the Šemík monument was created in 1887. Local tradition includes the story of the horse belonging to the knight Horymír; a circular castle site also recalls an earlier fortification. In Neumětely, building history, legend and landscape stand side by side.
Church and bell tower
The listed parish Church of St Peter and Paul was built in the 14th century. Its core is Gothic; in the mid-18th century it was remodelled in the Baroque style. The church therefore cannot be reduced to a single building phase: its medieval core and Baroque remodelling belong to different periods of its history. The church also houses an organ dating from 1887. This date is considerably later than the church’s origins and its Baroque remodelling; it adds a later date for a fitting to the building’s history.
Another listed feature is the bell tower, built entirely of wood after 1763. Its roof is covered with shingles. The footprint measures almost 6 by 5 metres, and the total height is just under 7 metres. A single surviving bell hangs in the tower, bearing an inscription from 1637. The inscription is therefore older than the wooden structure, which was built after 1763. Today, the bell is rung only for deaths and funerals.
The Šemík monument and local legend
The listed Šemík monument stands in a small park behind the cemetery, beside the road. It was erected in 1887 and is a cenotaph in the form of an ancient temple, in the historicist neoclassical style. The year 1887 also appears in connection with the parish church organ: it links the two sites chronologically, but dates the organ at the church and the monument’s construction at the monument. A local tradition is associated with the Šemík monument: in Neumětely, people believe that Šemík, the faithful horse of the knight Horymír, is buried there. The term cenotaph classifies the structure as a monument; local tradition adds its own story.
Earlier fortification and practical information
The circular castle site was once surrounded on all sides by water and ramparts. Its diameter was about 45 metres. Its circular shape and approximate size give the former site a tangible spatial form. As a former fortification, the site adds another kind of local landmark to the history of the church and the Šemík monument.
A red-marked hiking trail leads from Neumětely towards Želkovice and Málkov. If you plan to take this trail, check the current markings before setting out. Tourist stamps and visitor cards are available at the municipal office and at the U Horymíra restaurant. It is best to check their availability before you travel.
Discover more destinations: Trubská, Mořina, Otmíče, Králův Dvůr, Zadní Treban, Chodouň, Chrustenice, Lážovice
For the broader travel overview: Beroun District.
