Kolaje lies on the northeastern slope of Oškobrh. Choosing this destination brings together two clearly distinct perspectives: the history of the settlement and the natural and historical area of Oškobrh. The Site of Community Importance covers 94.1636 hectares. Kolaje was founded in 1777; Oškobrh is home to both protected habitats and traces of the past.
Forests, dry grasslands and habitats at Oškobrh
The Oškobrh area is predominantly forested. This includes heat-loving oak forests; xerothermic grasslands—grassy areas in warm, dry locations—lie on the southwestern slopes. The habitat of the stag beetle is also protected in the Natura 2000 site. Exposed marl outcrops add a geological aspect to the landscape. At Oškobrh, forests, warm, dry grasslands, geological features and the protection of a beetle species are found side by side.
Two peaks with different traces of history
Oškobrh consists of two peaks separated by a narrow depression. Historical interpretations place a La Tène hillfort dating from the 1st millennium BC on the higher peak; the lower one is classified as a Slavic hillfort from the 5th to 6th centuries. The archaeological area at Oškobrh also includes traces of the vanished medieval settlement of Oškobrhy. The remains of a medieval church have been preserved; later, in the Baroque period, it was transformed into a pilgrimage site. These traces point to different periods, from prehistory through the Middle Ages to the Baroque era.
The founding and names of Kolaje
Kolaje was established in 1777 on the pastureland of the vanished settlement of Mastnice during the Raabisation process. It was first mentioned in writing in 1790, thirteen years after its founding. The settlement was named after Hofrat Jan František Hermann von Hermannsdorf. Historical names for Kolaje included Heřmanice, Heřmanovice, Hermannsdorf and Heřmandorf. The local name “Na kolajích” is also part of the village’s history: it referred to the poor condition of an old cart road, where one rut ran alongside another.
Historical settlement pattern and orientation
The historic settlement comprised 18 original farmsteads, with the houses arranged in two rows of nine. In 1802, a fire razed more than half of the houses in Kolaje to their foundations. The destroyed houses were subsequently rebuilt in masonry. These details offer a concrete glimpse into the village’s development: the settlement pattern and the rebuilding after the fire belong to different chapters of its history.
A local orientation guide printed in April 2025 lists no marked hiking trails through Kolaje. Check the local trail markings before setting out on a hike. As a historical route reference, the village chronicle describes a section of the old Kolínská cesta towards neighbouring Oškobrh as having remained almost in its original state; in the past, this road was the shortest and most direct connection between the two villages.
Discover more destinations: Hrubý Jeseník, Jiřice, Zbožíčko, Okřínek, Podmoky, Běrunice, Seletice, Stará Lysá
Go to the regional travel overview: Nymburk District.
