Church of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist - Kladno Dubí

Access to it is from the Kladno part of Dubí. In the places where the wastewater treatment plant stands, there is a branch on the right side in the direction from Kladno, leading to a forest called Dubina. At the beginning of the journey is a monument to the victims of the First World War and behind it a new cemetery. Take the narrow, relatively steep forest path on your left, which will take you after about 600 meters directly to the church, surrounded by the old cemetery.

It stands on an elevated space, hidden between oaks and oaks, enclosed by two paths. The whole place will surely appeal to you with its atmosphere. A sad story from the Second World War is attached to it. At a time when the Americans were conducting air raids and bombing strategic places in our country, they accidentally dropped their bombs in the Oak Forest near the church. There, workers from the smelters were hiding before the air attack. 38 of them did not survive.

The prince, who hunted in ancient forests in ancient times, turned out better. Impressed by the pursuit of the rope, he fell into the trap of the robbers, from which he escaped, hid in the cavity of a massive oak, and there his companion found him. So out of gratitude for hearing his prayers, he had a church built on the site of his hiding place. This is what the legend says, which, as in many other similar places, romanticizes the creation of chapels or churches and monasteries.

The old cemetery and its tombstones are not without interest either. The dates of birth and death will take you back to the last century, and you may reverently stand by, for example, an old gilded tombstone lined with a newer monument.

You can get to the church at Svatý Ján, as the locals say, by bike along the Kladno cycle path 017.

Author: Ivana Dondová