Skalice lies in a valley on both banks of the Skalický potok. The town’s history dates back to a written reference from 1143; at the same time, the Pardědub archaeological site lies above the left bank of the Elbe. The historical traces and the cycling route offer different ways to discover the town.

Early settlement and historic routes

The first written reference to Skalice dates from 1143. At that time, Bishop Jan of Lochenice gave the district known as Skalice to the Premonstratensian Strahov Monastery in Prague. Archaeological finds show that the area was already settled during the early hillfort period. Early settlement and a specifically dated event from the Middle Ages therefore stand side by side as distinct historical points of reference. A fortress built in Skalice is also part of the town’s history. Its inhabitants had to guard the road from Hradec through Skalice to Smiřice, as well as a ford across the Elbe that the road crossed. The river is therefore not merely a landscape feature here, but also part of a historic transport route.

Pardědub: location and surviving traces

The Pardědub archaeological site is located in the municipality of Skalice, in the cadastral areas of Skalice u Smiřic and Skalička nad Labem. It lies on a rise above the left bank of the Elbe and is classified as a hilltop settlement and fortification. A remnant of a ditch and rampart survives as a raised feature in the terrain in the northeastern part of the prehistoric fortification. The term hilltop settlement describes the site by its location; the surviving remains of the ditch and rampart describe the form of the fortification. This makes it possible to distinguish the site’s classification from the feature that survives in the terrain.

Cultural heritage in Skalice and its local districts

The historic village square in the western part of Skalice is part of the local historical and cultural heritage. In front of house No. 13 stands a stone crucifix with a statue of the Virgin Mary in a niche and an enclosure; a bell tower with a concrete structure stands next to it. The statue of the Virgin Mary and the niche are part of the crucifix, while the bell tower beside it has a distinct architectural form. Cultural monuments are also registered in other local districts: in Číbuz, the Church of St. Wenceslas precinct with its perimeter wall, and in Skalička, farmstead No. 24. These are two separate monuments in different parts of the municipality. The place names help with orientation: the village square and crucifix are in Skalice, while the other two monuments are in Číbuz and Skalička.

Cycling route and cultural event

If you are planning to cycle, you can follow marked cycling route No. 4283, which runs from Smržov through Skalice to Lochenice. Check the current route markings on site before planning your tour. The municipality’s annual cultural events include the Pivní slavnosti Skalice beer festival. If you would like to combine your stay with the festival, check the specific event date.

Discover more destinations: Lochenice, Smidary, Puchlovice, Librantice, Stará Voda, Zdechovice, Kosičky, Habřina

For the broader travel overview: Hradec Králové District.