Like In A Film. The Search For A Golden Treasure
It was the year 1984 when American Danny Douglas made an unusual offer to representatives of the then Czechoslovak state. He offered the export of a valuable but not precisely specified artefact for 250,000 dollars, which attracted the attention of the security services at the time. This mysterious offer set in motion a chain of events leading to a long-forgotten treasure, hidden beneath the wooden floor of the chapel at Bečov Castle.
How Was The Reliquary Found In Bečov?
Thanks to the diligent investigation of the criminal police, and possibly also to the spy surveillance of the main protagonist, Danny Douglas, it turned out that the sought-after monument might be in Bečov nad Teplou, as it had originally belonged – like the castle itself – to the prominent noble family of Beaufort-Spontin. They had to abandon their Czech residence in haste at the end of the Second World War. And such a large object could not simply be carried away on one’s back. The reliquary was finally uncovered on 5 November 1985.
A Poisonous Tooth From A Prehistoric Fish
After the discovery, a demanding restoration began, lasting a full 12 years. The restorers worked with original materials (do not miss the documentary with the main restorers in the permanent exhibition). However, the original oak core had to be replaced with new walnut wood due to its poor condition, as you will see with your own eyes.
The decoration of this early Romanesque goldsmith’s masterpiece consists of reliefs of fourteen gilded silver statuettes, precious stones, semi-precious stones, ancient gems, filigrees, and enamels. An interesting detail is that one of the stones is, in fact, the tooth of a prehistoric fish. It was believed to protect against poisoning.
The Reliquary of Saint Maurus was originally made around 1225–1230 in the Florennes Monastery in Belgium. It served to venerate the relics of saints, originally dedicated to Saint John the Baptist and later supplemented with relics of Saints Maurus, Timothy, and Apollinaris.
Crown Jewels And Other Treasures In Czechia
Other extraordinary treasures in Czechia include, for example, the royal crown jewels, consisting of the St Wenceslas Crown, the royal orb, the sceptre, and the coronation robe. They will be on public display in the Vladislav Hall of the Old Royal Palace at Prague Castle from 18 to 29 September 2025.
Among other valuable monuments is, for instance, the Milevsko Reliquary, discovered in 2020 in the Church of Saint Giles in Milevsko. It contains wood dated between 338 and 416 AD and is considered one of the oldest monuments in the Czech Republic. A part of an iron nail most probably comes from the so-called True Cross on which Jesus Christ died. The artefact is not yet on display.
History enthusiasts should not miss the opportunity to see the double-armed gold reliquary cross adorned with gemstones and pearls. The Cross of Záviš can be viewed in the Cistercian Monastery in Vyšší Brod, but only during the summer season from May to the end of September.
