Krliš

Krliš is a wooded, gently rounded hill right next to the village of Tursko on the Prague Plateau, roughly 10 km from the edge of Prague. At 308 metres above sea level it is the second-highest point of the so-called Turská plošina (Tursko Plateau), and despite its modest height it has stirred the Czech imagination for generations as the setting of one of the country's oldest war legends.

Where Krliš is and how to reach it

The hill sits in the Praha-západ district, just a few minutes' walk southeast of the centre of Tursko. A field path leads up to it, and a bench at the top makes it a natural stop for a short walk or part of a longer hiking or cycling route through the Kladno-Slaný countryside. There's no admission fee and no formal tourist infrastructure here — the appeal lies in the story and the landscape rather than in built attractions.

The legend behind Krliš

Krliš is closely tied to the tale of the so-called Lucká válka (the "Lucanian War"), a legendary conflict said to have decided the fate of the early Czech lands. According to tradition, the decisive battle took place on the field below the hill, still known today as "Na zabitém" ("at the slain"), and the often-quoted date of 9 May 869 should be read as part of the legend rather than an established historical fact. The story features chieftains referred to as Čestmír or Tyr (Styr); their fate is also mentioned in the 19th-century Rukopis královédvorský, which places a similarly named "Čestmír's mound" somewhere north of Tursko. It's worth noting that this manuscript is a well-documented historical forgery — an interesting twist, since the legend of Krliš clearly survived on its own, independent of that source's credibility. The hill and its legend were also recorded by Alois Jirásek in his "Old Czech Legends," which is how Krliš entered the wider Czech cultural memory.

What archaeology has found

In the mid-19th century, the priest Václav Krolmus studied the site and interpreted stone hammers found there as weapons — belonging either to the heroic Czechs or to the defeated Lucanians of the legend. Later, 20th-century excavations uncovered a burial ground of Slavic character, but closer study showed that the mound itself actually dates back to the Bronze Age and belongs to the Únětice culture. That's the interesting twist: a place carrying the weight of a medieval legend turns out, archaeologically, to be considerably older, reaching back into prehistory.

What Krliš looks like today

Today the hill still bears traces of past quarrying activity, and a restored cross stands at its centre — modest but clearly visible against the landscape. The surroundings are quiet and unassuming: fields, patches of woodland, and views across the Tursko plateau. It's a spot better suited to travellers looking for a peaceful viewpoint with history behind it than to anyone chasing a dramatic sight — and that simplicity is exactly its charm.

Frequently asked questions

How high is Krliš? The hill rises to 308 metres above sea level and is the second-highest point of the Turská plošina.

Is Krliš a confirmed historical battle site? No — its link to the legendary Lucanian War battle comes from folklore and tradition, recorded among others by Alois Jirásek, rather than from established historical record.

What has been found archaeologically at Krliš? Stone tools studied by Václav Krolmus in the 19th century and a burial ground uncovered in the 20th century; the mound itself dates to the Bronze Age Únětice culture.

Can you walk there from Tursko? Yes — it's a few minutes on foot along a field path southeast of the village, free of charge and open to visit at any time.