Archaeological Area Na Díle
Discover the foundations of one of the oldest known stone churches in Moravia at the archaeological site of Na Díle. A full-size reconstruction stands beside the original remains, creating a clear and accessible introduction to early Christian architecture and the Great Moravian landscape around Modrá.
What can you discover here?
Original Church Foundations
The preserved foundations represent one of the most important early medieval stone churches discovered in Moravia. The archaeological remains reveal the rectangular layout of the original building.
Reconstructed Great Moravian Church
The full-size reconstruction was created beside the original foundations in 1999–2000. It provides visitors with a visual impression of the scale and appearance of the early medieval church.
Great Moravian Burial Ground
Archaeologists uncovered around forty graves around the church. The burial finds provide valuable information about the people who lived in the settlement and the cultural connections of Great Moravia.
History & Heritage
The archaeological area known as “Na Díle” is located on an elevated position near Modrá, approximately four kilometres northwest of Staré Město. The site lies near an ancient route connecting Central Moravia with the Vyškov region and forms part of the wider archaeological landscape around Velehrad and Staré Město.
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The foundations of a small stone church were discovered in 1911 by Jan Nevěřil. Later archaeological research in the 1950s confirmed the importance of the discovery and revealed the complete ground plan of the building together with a surrounding burial ground.
The church had a rectangular nave and a rectangular eastern end. Four internal supports were incorporated into the building. Archaeological evidence indicates that the walls were plastered and painted.
Around the church, approximately forty graves were excavated. The grave goods included ornaments, spurs, belt fittings and other objects reflecting both eastern and western cultural influences. The burials date mainly from the 9th and early 10th centuries.
The precise origin and historical context of the church have been discussed by researchers. Some interpretations connect it with western missionary traditions that reached Moravia before or alongside the mission of Saints Cyril and Methodius, while other interpretations place it within the wider Christian environment of Great Moravia.
The original building eventually disappeared. A hypothetical full-size reconstruction of the church was created in 1999–2000 next to the archaeological remains.
The site can be visited together with the nearby Archaeological Open-Air Museum Modrá, Church of St. John the Baptist and Velehrad.
Practical Information
Visitor Information +
Memorial of Great Moravia – Cyril and Methodius Centre
Archaeological Open-Air Museum Modrá
Location
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