Archaeological site At Špitálky
At Špitálky, visitors can stand above the foundations of a Great Moravian church discovered in 1949 and explore a landscape inhabited for thousands of years. The open-air site is a simple but powerful introduction to the archaeological heritage of Staré Město and the wider Great Moravian landscape around Veligrad.
What can you discover here?
Foundations of the Great Moravian Church
The remains of the Great Moravian church are the central archaeological feature of Špitálky. The foundations were discovered in 1949 and became an important source for research into early medieval architecture and Christianity.
Early Medieval Houses
Archaeological excavations around the church revealed numerous burials. Their location provides evidence of the relationship between the church and the surrounding sacred area.
Sacred Enclosure
Archaeological research identified traces of an enclosure surrounding the church area. The remains help researchers understand how the early medieval sacred space may have been organised.
History & Heritage
The archaeological site known as Na Špitálkách lies on the Velehrad promontory in Staré Město. It forms part of a wider archaeological landscape associated with the important Great Moravian settlement around Staré Město and Uherské Hradiště.
Read more +
The site became particularly important after the discovery of the foundations of a Great Moravian church in 1949. Archaeological research revealed part of the church structure, burials and evidence of an enclosed sacred area.
The church and associated remains provide evidence of Christian architecture and religious life during the Great Moravian period. The archaeological evidence has also contributed to research into the cultural and religious connections of the region.
The history of the location reaches much further back. Archaeological finds demonstrate human activity from the Palaeolithic period and later prehistoric settlement, including several archaeological cultures.
Špitálky therefore provides an unusual opportunity to experience a landscape where archaeological evidence from very different periods overlaps.
Today, the site is freely accessible and interpreted through information panels. It can be combined with a visit to the nearby Great Moravia Memorial – Cyril and Methodius Centre.
Practical Information
Visitor Information +
Great Moravia Memorial – Cyril and Methodius Centre
Slovácké muzeum in Uherské Hradiště
Location
You may also like
