CZ, Želízy: Devil's Head - Treasures Of Kokořín Forest - VIDEO

To tell the truth, there is not much reason why stop in Želízy, except one - and that is the work of sculptor Václav Levý. So if you want to go after his footsteps, wear something to nature. Statues of Levý you will not find in the square, as it usually is, and what is missing in Želízy anyways, but in the pine forests, for this day, smells by hot spring air.

So this blue is really thick...

Even small children would be able to do a short walk to the most famous creation of Levý - the Devil's heads. From a small village brands by signs about dog feces, leads blue tourist sign through the chopped woods. She is marked perhaps even impossible any possible deviation from the route, a spot has opened up a palm comical. If somewhere in the country are missing out on important crossroads blue tourist signs, then certainly moved here to the Želízy. Or it seems like this. In defense of those who marked the path, you must tell the reason. The cut down forest would be replaced with new trees and their owner will naturally not want to grow up in the future or have grown up with the tips and branches, because someone steps on it, in their youth.  

They are tourists and tourists

But despite all possible measures, there are tourists and tourists. And unfortunately for the Devil's head and future forest below, this rarity is too easily available, especially so for those tourists to whom Nature does not say much of anything. Papers scattered around the sandstone cliffs, accessible and pleasant prospects lonely spots, are nothing special - as well as engraved monograms and various nonsense a thousand-year-old sandstone. Unfortunately.

Regardless - the presence of garbage, then the Devil's head truly magnificent work. It would be logical if the name represent. For lazier nature to think that just devil's heads are, but many work carefully carved into the sandstone sees it differently - perhaps as angry men, witches or God knows what else. In any case, they are stringent being that watches over orderly life of entire villages, and in places as far as is possible to see, perhaps the Central district office. According to legend, the Devil's head should illustrate the nature of Liběchov people.

Václav Levý (1820 - 1879) once worked as a cook at the castle Liběchov and so it is possible that the work went mad in the surrounding forests and vented their emotions as well as giving vent to their imagination. His imagination is the only difficult to translate the dumplings served on the lord's table. About nine-meter high Devil's heads was the first work of Levý, later teacher of a famous Josef Václav Myslbek. But there is not only one footstep after this remarkable artist.

The Kokořín woods Levý hidden many of his other works – Harfenice and Snake, Mordloch and Seven loaves, Blaník and caves Klácelka. If you would the search for them, we can almost guarantee you will spend a pleasant day.

Text/foto/video: Klára Svobodová