Chvalešovice Castle

Chvalešovice Castle is a Renaissance fortified manor house standing above a fishpond in the village of Chvalešovice, part of the Dříteň municipality in South Bohemia, not far from Český Budějovice. It's a stop for travelers who want a taste of provincial Czech history without crowds or entrance tickets — the building is privately owned and best appreciated from the outside.

Where did this building come from?

The village itself is first mentioned in 1378, when its manor belonged to Petr Kabele of Chvalešovice. The structure standing today, however, is younger: it was built after 1548 by Zikmund Malovec of Malovic, from the Libějovice branch of the family, on the site of an earlier residence. After his death in 1597 the estate passed to his son Václav, who sold it in 1616 to Václav Malovec of Dříteň.

How did ownership change over the centuries?

The property's history mirrors the turbulent fate of Czech nobility in the 17th century. Because the Malovec family took part in the Bohemian Estates Uprising, the Dříteň estate was confiscated from them in 1619. Ten years later, in 1628, it was bought by the imperial general Baltazar Marradas. From 1661 onward, Chvalešovice belonged to the Schwarzenberg family, who held it for well over two centuries. During the first land reform it was taken from the Schwarzenbergs and sold to the Vachout family in 1933. Nationalized in 1948, the property was returned to the descendants of its earlier owners through restitution in 1992.

What will you actually see there?

The building is a two-story structure on a rectangular plan, topped with three tall, parallel trapezoidal gables facing the pond — this striking gable silhouette is what draws most photographers. The corners still carry bay windows with traces of Renaissance sgraffito decoration, and the ground-floor rooms are vaulted, while the upper floor keeps its older wooden ceiling. Today the building serves as storage for a local agricultural cooperative, so the interior is closed to visitors — the appeal here is the exterior view and the picturesque setting by the water.

How do you get there?

Chvalešovice lies within the Dříteň municipality, a short distance from Český Budějovice, making it an easy add-on for a day trip from the city or a stop on a longer route through South Bohemia. Driving is the most practical option — the surrounding countryside is dotted with fishponds typical of the Blata and Třeboň regions.

When is the best time to visit?

Spring and summer give the best photos, when the pond in front of the manor is full and the greenery around it sets off the Renaissance architecture. In autumn, nearby fishponds are sometimes drained for fish harvesting, offering a different but equally interesting look at the landscape.

Frequently asked questions

Can you go inside Chvalešovice Castle? No — the building is privately owned and used as storage by an agricultural cooperative, so the interior is not open to visitors.

Who built the manor house at Chvalešovice? It was built after 1548 by Zikmund Malovec of Malovic, from the Libějovice branch of the family, on the site of an older residence.

Is it worth visiting if you can't enter the building? Yes — for the Renaissance architecture above the pond and the sgraffito traces on the bay windows alone, it's a worthwhile stop on a route through the Dříteň area near Český Budějovice.

How did the Schwarzenberg family come to own it? After the Malovec estate was confiscated in 1619 and sold to general Marradas in 1628, Chvalešovice passed to the Schwarzenberg family in 1661.