Location and name

Jezvina lies by the Jezvinský potok, on the edge of forests and meadows next to Hradce. The village name also offers a glimpse into the history of the Czech language: the old Czech word “jezvina” referred to a ravine, a shelter, or distinctive rock outcrops in pastures. Today, Jezvina retains its historical character and Old Czech atmosphere. The village’s location and the older meanings of its name thus stand side by side.

Traces of the village’s history

The first written mention of Jezvina dates from 1352, when the Rožmberks acquired the so-called “sedlčanské zboží.” Medieval records distinguished between Horní Jezvina and Dolní Jezvina, also called Větší Jezvina and Menší Jezvina. In historical Czech writings, the forms Jezvina and Jezvino appear alongside Jezviná. A farm in Jezvina was mentioned in 1539 as part of the Křepenice estate. In 1886, a cup containing Czech silver groschen was unearthed while the foundations of Matěj Švagr’s cottage, house number 1, were being dug. These dates mark different kinds of historical evidence: the first written mention, the farm in connection with an estate, and the discovery of an object.

Farming and obligations

The history of farming is also associated with figures and specific obligations. The 1654 Berní rule (tax register) names the farmers Martin Štěpánek and Kříž Pejša; they owned 81 strych of arable land, equivalent to 23 hectares. The hectare figure makes the historical unit of area easier to understand in a familiar measure. The farmers of Jezvina practised a three-field crop rotation and kept cattle, horses, and breeding sows. The Tereziánský katastr (Theresian Cadastre) of 1756 records an area of arable land similar to the earlier one, allowing the history of the farmland to be compared using figures from two different periods. Each week, the farmers had to work for the estate for three days with two ox-drawn teams. Historically, two-thirds of a kopa of carp had to be delivered from the community pond in Jezvina.

The bell in nearby Hradce

The history of the bell in nearby Hradce adds a later point in time. The bell was named Josef and was ceremonially consecrated in 1990. In 1993, manual ringing was replaced by electric ringing. Compared with Jezvina’s medieval names and farming records, this represents a much more recent chapter in local cultural history.

When planning a trip, the landscape and history can be considered as two distinct ways of exploring the area: the Jezvinský potok and the edge of the forests and meadows describe the location; names, farming, and archaeological finds reveal historical themes of the village. This gives you a concrete comparison when deciding whether you care more about the landscape or local history when choosing a destination.

Discover more destinations: Koupě, Sádek, Kozárovice, Nedrahovice, Buková U Příbramě, Kamýk Nad Vltavou, Bratrikovice, Sedlec.

See the overview of destinations in the wider area: Okres Příbram.