DolnÃÂ VÃÂstonice () is a municipality and village in BÃ Âeclav District in the South Moravian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 300 inhabitants. It is known for the eponymous archaeological site and it gave the name to one of the oldest known works of art in the world, Venus of DolnÃÂ VÃÂstonice.
DolnàVÃÂstonice is located about northwest of Bà Âeclav and south of Brno. It lies on the border between the Mikulov Highlands and DyjeâÂÂSvratka Valley. The highest point is at above sea level. The village is situated on the shore of the Nové Mlýny reservoirs. The municipality is partly located in the Pálava Protected Landscape Area. The area of the reservoir is protected as the VÃÂstonice Reservoir Nature Reserve.
DolnÃÂ VÃÂstonice is known for the DolnÃÂ VÃÂstonice archaeological site. Approximately 25,000 years ago, during the Upper Paleolithic period of the Stone Age, a small settlement of mammoth hunters consisting of huts built with rocks and mammoth bones was founded on the site of what is now DolnÃÂ VÃÂstonice. This is the oldest permanent human settlement that has ever been found. Numerous other archaeological discoveries point to extensive human habitation of the area in prehistoric times. The archaeological site is also known for the finding of the Venus of DolnÃÂ VÃÂstonice, one of the most important archaeological discoveries in Europe and one of the oldest and most famous art pieces in the world.
During the Great Moravia period, which lasted between the 9th and 10th centuries, a small Slavic gord was built here. The gord protected a ford on an important trade route.
The first written mention of VÃÂstonice is from 1312. During the 13th century the place became inhabited by German colonists. In 1460, the village was promoted to a market town by King George of PodÃÂbrady. From the beginning of the 16th century until their expulsion in 1622, the Anabaptists settled here. They were famous for their high level of education and the establishment of wine cellars, which have survived to this day.
In 1938, it was annexed by Nazi Germany and administered as part of the Reichsgau Niederdonau. The German speaking population was expelled in 1945 according to the Beneà ¡ decrees and replaced by Czech settlers.
DolnàVÃÂstonice is known for viticulture. The municipality lies in the Mikulovská wine subregion.
There are no railways or major roads passing through the municipality.
The main landmark of DolnÃÂ VÃÂstonice is the Church of Saint Michael the Archangel. It is a Baroque building with a Gothic core and Renaissance tower.
Tourist attractions follow the archaeological glory of the municipality. The archaeological site includes an outdoor exhibition. An educational archeological path leads from DolnÃÂ VÃÂstonice to neighbouring Pavlov.
Remains of the gord rampart and floor plan of the church, which stood here until the early 13th century, are preserved.