Mladeč


Mladeč is a municipality and village in Olomouc District in the Olomouc Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 700 inhabitants.

Administrative division

Mladeč consists of three municipal parts :
  • Mladeč
  • Nové Zámky
  • Sobáčov

Geography

Mladeč is located about northwest of Olomouc. It extends into three geomorphological regions. The southern part of the municipal territory with the Mladeč and Sobáčov villages lies in the Zábřeh Highlands. The central part lies in the Morava Valley">Morava (river)">Morava Valley. The northern part with the Nové Zámky village lies in the Hanušovice Highlands.
The Morava River flows through the central area of the municipality. The brook of Mlýnský potok, a tributary of the Morava, also flows through the municipality and is divided here into two branches. There are two fishponds in the municipality: Sobáčovský and Zámecký. Most of the municipality is located in the Litovelské Pomoraví [Protected Landscape Area].

History

The first written mention of Mladeč is from 1350. Sobáčov was first mentioned in 1351.

Transport

The D35 motorway from Olomouc to the Hradec Králové Region passes through the municipality.

Sights

Mladeč is known for the Mladeč caves. The caves are open to the public.
In Nové Zámky is a Neoclassical castle. It was built in 1813–1820 by a complete reconstruction of an old Baroque hunting lodge, according to the design by Joseph Hardtmuth. Around the castle is a large landscape park.

Archaeology

Mladeč is an Aurignacian archaeological site with directly dated remains of early modern human dating to about 31,000 radiocarbon years. The site contains remains of at least half a dozen individuals, including children. They are the oldest bones that indicate a human settlement or community in Europe. The Mladeč collection also includes Aurignacian tools and art associated with early modern humans. The remains appear to show some Neanderthal-like features.