The Typology of The Historical Cultural Landscape in The South of The Former Kaplice Region
Abstract: The opened spatial configuration of the former Kaplice district situated between the Bohemian Forest and the Gratzen Mountains on the Czech-Austrian border has facilitated cultural & economic exchange, but at the same time, it has been exposed to armed conflicts as well. The population of the region was mainly German since the colonization of the area at the end of the 13th century until the aftermath of the 2nd World War. A relatively densely populated region was deserted in only few years after the deportation of Germans and the erection of the Iron curtain. Most of the settlements were demolished during the establishment of the restricted border area. Relics of destroyed villages such as ruins of buildings, sacral architecture, communication systems, landscaping or non-forest vegetation are still present in the countryside today. The selected area is analysed from the perspective of the “Typology of historical cultural landscape of the Czech Republic” methodology, which defines Units of historical cultural landscape based on the concentration of identified attributes, their mutual links and visual integrity of the locality. The assessed area delimited by the settlements Dolní Dvořiště (Unter Hayd), Malonty (Meinetschlag) and deserted town of Cetviny (Zettwing) comprises the unit of depopulated places or the unit of border protection facilities. Furthermore, a unit of pilgrimage landscape can be identified in relation to the allegedly miraculous boulders and the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary in Svatý kámen, which belonged among the most visited pilgrimage sites of the South Bohemian region until the deportation of Germans. Therefore, it is possible to designate the examined area as a whole of historical cultural landscape with values deserving protection.
