Rostoklaty reveals its history through distinctive landmarks: St. Martin’s Church, with medieval origins, a Renaissance pulpit and a sandstone cross with an exactly dated consecration. Also preserved are gravestones in a former cemetery and a commemorative plaque on the municipal office building. The cultural focus is therefore on architectural and commemorative history. If you are considering Rostoklaty as a destination for a stay, these themes can help you get a sense of what the town has to offer. The following details distinguish the monuments by period, form and location.

St. Martin’s: Medieval Origins and a Renaissance Pulpit

The first Gothic church of St. Martin in Rostoklaty was probably built at the end of the first half of the 14th century. It was first mentioned in writing in 1352. The two details mark different points: the construction date remains a probable estimate, while 1352 is the first written mention. This distinguishes the presumed origins from the date recorded in writing.

A stone, prismatic Renaissance pulpit stands on the Gospel side of the triumphal arch inside the church. Martin Náchodský, Hetman of the Škvorec estate, commissioned it in 1574. The year therefore refers to its commission. Renaissance identifies its style, while prismatic describes its form. Alongside the church’s probable medieval construction date, this clearly distinguishes the age of the church from a later addition to its furnishings. Here, prismatic means that the pulpit has an angular, geometric shape.

Sandstone Cross with an Exact Consecration Date

The symbolic cross in Rostoklaty is made of sandstone, is octagonal and stands 4.2 metres tall; pseudo-Gothic motifs and mouldings characterize its design. Josef and Barbora Chroust erected it. On 19 June 1853, the parish priest Jan Kinzl from Tuklaty consecrated the cross. Pseudo-Gothic motifs draw on Gothic forms; here, the term describes the cross’s design. The consecration date is given to the exact day, whereas the construction date of St. Martin’s Church remains a probable estimate.

Gravestones and Remembrance

Several high-quality gravestones dating from the second half of the 19th century to the beginning of the 20th century have been preserved in the former cemetery in Rostoklaty. Unlike the cross’s consecration, dated 19 June 1853, they span a longer period. This makes it possible to compare a single event date with gravestones from several decades.

The memorial plaque to those who fell in the First World War is on the municipal office building in Rostoklaty. It adds another point of reference in the history of remembrance to the architectural and cemetery monuments. If you would like to include the plaque in your plans for the area, check in advance under what conditions the municipal office building is accessible.

Discover more destinations: Nova Ves I, Tuchoraz, Libenice, Kbel, Červené Pečky, Horní Kruty, Radovesnice Ii, Kouřim

For the overview of the wider region: Okres Kolín.