Mšecké Žehrovice combines archaeological history with sacred architecture and a themed trail. The Celtic stone head, St Martin’s Church and the Novostrašecko nature trail offer different points of interest; nearby, the Louky v oboře Libeň Nature Reserve adds a protected landscape to the local picture.
Archaeology: Stone Head and Findspot
At the heart of the archaeological story is the Celtic stone head of Mšecké Žehrovice. It was found in 1943 in a sandpit within the cadastral area of the municipality and dates from the 3rd century BC. The sculpture is attributed to the artistic style of the La Tène period. The year it was found and its date of origin answer two different questions: when the head was discovered and which period the work belongs to. This distinction helps avoid confusing the 1943 discovery with the time when it was created.
A second archaeological point of interest is the Na Libeni findspot in Mšecké Žehrovice. It is classified as an important archaeological site with remains of settlements, fortifications and cult sites. While the stone head is a single object, the name Na Libeni refers to a findspot comprising several types of remains. This shift from an individual work of art to an archaeological site shows two different scales for exploring archaeology in Mšecké Žehrovice.
St Martin’s Church: Location and Building History
St Martin’s Church stands at the southern edge of the village square in Mšecké Žehrovice, near a small pond. It has older origins and acquired its present Baroque appearance in 1774. This gives its building history a date without conflating its earlier origins with its later Baroque character.
The architecture is also described in specific terms: the nave is rectangular, the presbytery is pentagonal, and the building also includes a sacristy. The presbytery refers to the choir area, while the nave forms the main part of the church interior. These terms help describe the church’s form more precisely rather than classifying it simply as “Baroque.” Its location, history and floor plan therefore provide different ways to explore the building.
Nature Trail and Nature Conservation
The Novostrašecko nature trail passes through Mšecké Žehrovice and has 17 stops. The number of stops gives the themed route a clear structure; unlike a single archaeological find or a church building, it offers another way to explore the area. If you include the nature trail in your plans, check the latest route information before your visit.
The nearby Louky v oboře Libeň Nature Reserve protects wet meadows and plant communities on white slopes. Its conservation features differ from those of the Na Libeni findspot, with its remains of settlements, fortifications and cult sites: here, wet meadows and plant communities are the focus. This provides a clear comparison for planning your visit between archaeology in the village and habitat conservation in the surrounding area.
Discover more destinations: Václavy, Kolešov, Lašovice, Řeřichy, Senec, Luzna U Rakovnika, Hřebečníky, Nesuchyně
For the overview of the wider area: Okres Rakovník.
