Klácelka is a man-made
cave
Caves or caverns are natural voids under the Earth's Planetary surface, surface. Caves often form by the weathering of rock and often extend deep underground. Exogene caves are smaller openings that extend a relatively short distance undergrou ...
in a
forest
A forest is an ecosystem characterized by a dense ecological community, community of trees. Hundreds of definitions of forest are used throughout the world, incorporating factors such as tree density, tree height, land use, legal standing, ...
near
Liběchov,
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic, also known as Czechia, and historically known as Bohemia, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Austria to the south, Germany to the west, Poland to the northeast, and Slovakia to the south ...
. It is known for its complex of
sculptural
Sculpture is the branch of the visual arts that operates in three dimensions. Sculpture is the three-dimensional art work which is physically presented in the dimensions of height, width and depth. It is one of the plastic arts. Durable s ...
works made by sculptor
Václav Levý
Václav Levý (also known as Wenzel Lewy; 14 September 1820 – 30 April 1870) was a sculptor in the Austrian Empire and Austria-Hungary. He was considered to be one of the pioneers of the modern style in Bohemia.
Biography
Levý was born in t ...
. The name of the cave and the sculptures commemorate
František Klácel
František Matouš Klácel (8 April 1808 – 17 March 1882) was a Czech author, philosopher, pedagogue, and journalist. Since 1827 he was an Augustinian friar in Brno, co-brother of Gregor Mendel.
Varied man
Klácel was born on 8 April 1808 in ...
, a
theologian
Theology is the study of religious belief from a religious perspective, with a focus on the nature of divinity. It is taught as an academic discipline, typically in universities and seminaries. It occupies itself with the unique content of ...
and
philosopher
Philosophy ('love of wisdom' in Ancient Greek) is a systematic study of general and fundamental questions concerning topics like existence, reason, knowledge, Value (ethics and social sciences), value, mind, and language. It is a rational an ...
. It was created during the 1840s.
At the time of carving the Klácelka, Levý was an untutored young man. He chiseled from
sandstone
Sandstone is a Clastic rock#Sedimentary clastic rocks, clastic sedimentary rock composed mainly of grain size, sand-sized (0.0625 to 2 mm) silicate mineral, silicate grains, Cementation (geology), cemented together by another mineral. Sand ...
rock a cave that is an allegorical
BlanÃk
BlanÃk (Czech: ) is a mountain in the Czech Republic near Louňovice pod BlanÃkem. The hill and surrounding area is a Protected areas of the Czech Republic, protected landscape area. The BlanÃk massif consists of two forested rocky hills, Vel ...
- a hall of sleeping heroes. These include the leader of the soldiers of the mythological army Zdeněk Zásmucký, the
Hussite
file:Hussitenkriege.tif, upright=1.2, Battle between Hussites (left) and Crusades#Campaigns against heretics and schismatics, Catholic crusaders in the 15th century
file:The Bohemian Realm during the Hussite Wars.png, upright=1.2, The Lands of the ...
leaders
Jan Žižka and
Prokop Holý, the sleeping BlanÃk army, and the dwarf figures wielding weapons for them. The interior walls of the cave are festooned with
relief
Relief is a sculpture, sculptural method in which the sculpted pieces remain attached to a solid background of the same material. The term ''wikt:relief, relief'' is from the Latin verb , to raise (). To create a sculpture in relief is to give ...
s from the
fable
Fable is a literary genre defined as a succinct fictional story, in prose or verse, that features animals, legendary creatures, plants, inanimate objects, or forces of nature that are anthropomorphized, and that illustrates or leads to a parti ...
''Lišák Ferina'' by Klácel.
The theme of BlanÃk, central to the Klácelka, harks back to
Protestant
Protestantism is a branch of Christianity that emphasizes Justification (theology), justification of sinners Sola fide, through faith alone, the teaching that Salvation in Christianity, salvation comes by unmerited Grace in Christianity, divin ...
symbolism and the memory of the
Hussite Wars
The Hussite Wars, also called the Bohemian Wars or the Hussite Revolution, were a series of civil wars fought between the Hussites and the combined Catholic forces of Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor, Holy Roman Emperor Sigismund, the Papacy, a ...
, notwithstanding the
Catholic
The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwid ...
monarchy
A monarchy is a form of government in which a person, the monarch, reigns as head of state for the rest of their life, or until abdication. The extent of the authority of the monarch may vary from restricted and largely symbolic (constitutio ...
of the times.
Klácelka is freely accessible along the blue tourist trail leading along the circuit from LibÄ›chov via ŽelÃzy and Tupadly around another work by Václav Levý, the
Devil's Head above ŽelÃzy. 2.5 km northwest of ŽelÃzy are also the reliefs of Harpist and Snake.
File:Klacelka-Rytiri.JPG, Jan Žižka and Prokop Holý
File:Klácelka - BlanÃk2.jpg, ZdenÄ›k Zásmucký
File:Klácelka - BlanÃk1.jpg, The dwarves forge weapons
File:Klácelka1.jpg, The bat from Klácel's fable
References
*''The Klacelka In A Slavic Woodland'' by Stacey B. Day, Int. Foundation, N.Y. 2002.
Monuments and memorials in the Czech Republic
Stone sculptures
1840s sculptures
Buildings and structures in the Central Bohemian Region
Tourist attractions in the Central Bohemian Region
MÄ›lnÃk District
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