Tetín Pilgrimage Site
Tetín is one of the oldest historical places in Bohemia, it was inhabited as early as the Stone Age and has witnessed important historical events.
The village beginnings are associated with old Czech legends and Princess Teta, who was the sister of Princess Libuše, the founder of Prague. However, historical research and archaeological reports place the village origins in the early 10th century. At that time, a Slavic fortress stood on Tetín, where Princess Ludmila (ca. 860 – 921), the wife of the first historically documented Přemyslid Prince Bořivoj, took refuge at the end of her life. In 921, Ludmila was attacked by assassins in Tetín and they strangled with her shawl on the night of 15th to 16th September. Not long afterwards, her grandson Prince Wenceslas had her remains transferred to Prague Castle and Ludmila became the first Czech saint.
The spiritual significance of Tetín is evidenced by the above-average number of churches; there are three in the village – the Church of St. Catherine, the Church of St. Ludmila and the Church of St. John of Nepomuk. They are mute witnesses of a place where crowds of pilgrims have streamed and still stream through the centuries. Nowadays, the pilgrimage to St. Ludmila is usually held on the second weekend in September.
Tetín’s rich history, apart from the fate of Princess Ludmilla, also includes the construction of the Tetín castle in the 13th century, which is just a ruin nowadays, the stay of the Czech chronicler Václav Hájek from Libočany in 1527-1533 and revival meetings at the local chateau in the 19th century. The surrounding nature in the Czech Karst protected landscape area is also significant, this is best enjoyed from the viewpoint of the Berounka River from the castle ruins.
Visitors can discover all the historical, natural and other attractions in the Tetín Museum or on the local nature trail.