Vyšehořovice brings together two very different discoveries: traces of a medieval fortress and the U skal Nature Monument, with fossilised plants from the Upper Cretaceous. Between them stands the Romanesque-Gothic ruin of St. Martin’s Church, the oldest surviving building in the village. The fortress, however, is not open to the public; it is located on the grounds of a private farm. Visitors choosing this destination should therefore distinguish between the fortress as a historical topic and U skal, which can be reached via a forest path.
The fortress: history on private grounds
The fortress was built in the 14th and 15th centuries and served as the residence of the Vladiks of Vyšehořovice. Its original layout measured 30 × 40 metres. A high wall surrounded a residential palace, farm buildings and a tall tower; a moat protected the grounds. The wall and moat give the complex its fortified character, while the palace and farm buildings point to its former residential and practical functions.
Today, the fortress is on the grounds of a former agricultural site, a privately owned farm. It is not open to the public. Do not plan to visit the interior, and check its access status again before travelling. This restriction is important when deciding whether to visit: the fortress is part of the village’s history, but it is not a publicly accessible visitor attraction.
Church ruins and bell tower
The ruin of the Romanesque-Gothic St. Martin’s Church is the oldest surviving building in Vyšehořovice. The Vyšehrad Chapter founded the church in the early 14th century; it was consecrated in 1329. Its original layout can be described in terms of two distinct parts: the square presbytery, or chancel, had a ribless cross vault. The rectangular nave had a flat ceiling. Only a small remnant of the nave survives today.
The late Gothic-Renaissance bell tower (Zvonice) is a massive, four-sided structure. Large Gothic pointed-arch windows and an attic parapet define its exterior; the parapet forms the upper finish of the building. The tower’s history is also linked to a clearly dated event: in 1677, Swedish troops burned down the Zvonice. The church and a large part of the village also burned down. The church and bell tower thus tell different chapters of the village’s architectural history and events.
U skal and the landscape along the Výmola
U skal offers a different focus: it is a protected natural monument in the southern part of the Vyšehořovice cadastral area. The site is known for fossilised plants from the Upper Cretaceous and is described as unique, exceptionally rich in species and of worldwide significance. Thus, alongside its historic buildings, Vyšehořovice also offers geological traces of a much earlier period in Earth’s history.
U skal lies on the southwestern edge of Vyšehořovice, on the left bank of the Výmola stream. The natural monument can be reached via an unmarked forest path. As path conditions can change, check locally before setting out. The unmarked access is a practical difference from the history of the fortress: a route is described here, while the fortress itself is closed to the public.
Plan your journey and stay
Vyšehořovice has bus connections to Prague, Čelákovice, Brandýs nad Labem and Český Brod. Check the timetables before travelling so you can plan your arrival and departure around the places you want to visit. Choose between architectural history and natural history during your visit: the church ruins and bell tower represent the village’s history, while U skal is a protected fossil site along the Výmola. Also bear in mind when planning that the fortress is not open to the public and the path to U skal is unmarked.
Discover more destinations: Pacov, Jenštejn, Stirin, Velké Popovice, Oleška, Křenek, Květnice, Šestajovice
See the regional travel overview: Okres Praha-Východ.
