St. Gothard Church

      In 1230s a considerable part of the settlement came to the possession of the Benedictine Monastery in Ostrov near Davle. At that time a small early medieval St. Gothard Church with one nave was built. Its foundations have been covered by the presbytery of today´s late-Gothic Church cosecrated to the same saint. In essence a Roman basilica was completely rebuilt after the year 1450 and finished in 1520. At that time today´s three naves, presbytery and sacristy were built. Despite the radical renewal by the architect Rudolf Štech in the years 1874 and 1890 the original late-Gothic wooden roof frame and late-Gothic door in the western portal from the beginning of the 16th century have been preserved.

     The location of the temple on the strategic disadvantageous place above morass resulted in the necessity of the fortification of that part of town. It was represented by the massive Prague Gate, a water moat (a reservoir has been preserved up to now - so called Brod -i.e. ford) and the Black Bastion. The other town gates - Lounská and Velvarská - were less spectacular and Fortenská Gate servrd only for pedestrians.