The Hejlovka stream flows through Vlásenice-Drbohlavy; a watermill with a historic wooden waterwheel stands by Mlýnský rybník. There is also a traceable history of the place name and a bell tower in Drbohlavy. Anyone looking for a holiday apartment in Vlásenice-Drbohlavy can get a sense of the area through its landscape, history and industrial heritage. These features offer different points of interest: a stream as a link to the landscape, a mill site with specific technical details, and a tower with a construction year and inscription.
The History of the Name and Historical Context
The first recorded mention of Vlásenice dates to 1386; this date is evidence of the name, not the year the settlement was founded. The second part of the name, Drbohlavy, was added only in the second half of the 16th century. From 1386 to 1580, the manor house and village belonged to the Božejov estate. This period spans almost two centuries and begins in the same year as the first recorded mention. The addition to the name came in the later part of the 16th century. The development of the place name and its belonging to the estate can therefore be viewed as two distinct timelines.
The Watermill at Mlýnský rybník
The watermill at Mlýnský rybník in Vlásenice-Drbohlavy is house number 14. Its historic equipment included a single overshot wooden waterwheel with two rims. In an overshot wheel, water is directed onto the wheel from above; the term describes how it is powered. The wheel had a diameter of 4.14 metres and a clear width of 73 centimetres. It powered a Czech milling mechanism and two stampers. The mill therefore brings together details of its design, material, dimensions and the machinery it powered. Anyone interested in historic technology can distinguish between the wheel’s design, its dimensions and the equipment it drove.
The Bell Tower and the Character of the Area
The bell tower in Drbohlavy was built in 1986 and bears the inscription “I tobě jednou zazvoním”. In English, the sentence can be rendered as “One day, I will ring for you too.” The construction year and wording offer two different points of reference: the date places the tower in time, while the inscription adds a linguistic detail. Unlike the mill, whose historic equipment consisted of a wheel, milling mechanism and stampers, the bell tower pairs a short text with its construction year. The two structures thus reveal different aspects of the area’s cultural history.
Which Aspect of the Area Matches Your Interests?
This gives you a clear way to identify what interests you most when choosing a destination. If you prefer historical developments, the first recorded mention, the later addition to the name and the area’s connection to the estate are the main points of interest. If you are interested in the history of technology, the mill—with its wooden wheel and two powered devices—offers a concrete point of reference. The bell tower adds a later construction date and a Czech inscription, while the Hejlovka, flowing through the area, provides a connection to the landscape. This can help you decide whether Vlásenice-Drbohlavy appeals to you primarily for its name and history, historic technology, or the combination of local and landscape details.
Discover more destinations: Dubovice, Kosetice, Starý Smrdov, Chystovice, Hojovice, Křeč, Lhota-Vlasenice, Čáslavsko
For the regional travel overview: Okres Pelhřimov.
