Rotunda svatého Jiří, Romanesque rotunda in Mnetěš, Czech Republic
The Saint George Rotunda is a round stone building from the Romanesque period on the summit of Říp Mountain in Mnetěš, Czech Republic, with a cylindrical tower on its western side. The thick walls carry narrow windows that let in little light, and the tower rises above the shallow conical roof.
Duke Soběslav I ordered the building renewed in 1126 after his victory at the Battle of Chlumec, as the first written mention records. This renewal turned the site into a gesture of thanks for the duke's military success.
The dedication to Saint George recalls the dragon-slaying knight, whose image appears twice inside through different artistic hands: a carved relief and a painted sculpture. Visitors see how Czech craftsmen reinterpreted the same knightly theme across different centuries.
The building opens from April through October, with longer hours in summer and a service at half past four on the first Sunday of each month. The climb to the summit requires good footwear, as the path turns steep and slippery when wet.
Two medieval bells from 1491 and 1509 hang in the western tower and carry Czech inscriptions on their surface. These bells still ring by hand today, requiring trained ringers who know the right swing.
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