The buried commander

The Church of Saint George was built on Homole hill in the Dušníky part of town, reached by 52 steps. According to legend, Helich of Úpice, a knight of gigantic stature and an enemy commander, was killed in an ancient battle near Loděnice. Here his body was set upright and supported on his horse, and Duke Soběslav ordered each soldier to fill his helmet with earth and empty it around him. That is said to have created the burial mound now known as Homole hill. Another version says that rebellious subjects buried the cruel lord of the local estate here together with his horse. His spirit finds no peace in this strange grave. Anyone who presses an ear to Homole at night can allegedly hear mournful sighs and the neighing of a horse. First, however, one must run three times around the hill while holding one’s breath.