Fortress in Chřešťovice

The Fortress in Chřešťovice (a former Gothic tvrz, later rebuilt as a Baroque château with the chapel of St. Barbara) is a small manor house in the village of Chřešťovice, part of the municipality of Albrechtice nad Vltavou in the Písek district of South Bohemia. This centuries-old building stands close to the eastern edge of the district, not far from the Orlík reservoir on the Vltava River.

Where is the Fortress in Chřešťovice located?

Chřešťovice is a small settlement roughly 11 km east of Písek, sitting in the Vltava valley near the shores of the Orlík reservoir. Administratively, the village belongs to the municipality of Albrechtice nad Vltavou. The building itself stands in the middle of the village, at the address Chřešťovice 18, and is clearly visible from the local road.

What is the history of the building?

The earliest record of a fortified residence on this site dates to around 1529 - a Gothic tvrz belonging to minor gentry connected to the Zvíkov and Písek nobility. During the sixteenth century, part of the village came into the hands of the Kalenice z Kalenic family, who converted the older tvrz into a Renaissance residence.

In 1695 the estate was acquired by Zikmund Ludvík z Trauttmansdorffu, who linked it administratively to the nearby Protivín estate. The building's real transformation came after the Schwarzenberg family took ownership in 1711: in 1719 they carried out a thorough Baroque reconstruction, giving rise to the three-wing residence seen today - mostly two storeys high, with lower, single-storey side wings. In the mid-eighteenth century additional structural reinforcements were added, including supporting pillars on the western façade. Further significant changes, including the partial bricking-in of the courtyard arcades, followed in 1819.

The complex also includes a chapel dedicated to St. Barbara, which forms an integral part of the fortress grounds.

Who takes care of the fortress today?

The building has been listed as a cultural monument of the Czech Republic since 19 December 1994. Between 2005 and 2017 it was owned and restored by Dr. Karl Häsler. Since 2023 it has belonged to Hana Sirůčková, and restoration work is ongoing on site - an architectural survey and the necessary building permits for continuing the reconstruction have already been completed.

What can visitors see there today?

The Fortress in Chřešťovice is privately owned and currently undergoing restoration, so it does not operate as a regularly open tourist attraction with fixed visiting hours. Even so, visitors passing through the village can view the Baroque exterior of the building - its three-wing layout, characteristic window proportions, and traces of its earlier Gothic and Renaissance phases make it an interesting stop for anyone exploring the area around Písek and the Orlík reservoir. The village of Chřešťovice itself, picturesquely set above the Vltava, is a good base for further trips around the South Bohemian countryside.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the Fortress in Chřešťovice? In the village of Chřešťovice, part of the municipality of Albrechtice nad Vltavou, in the Písek district of South Bohemia, about 11 km east of Písek.

When was the first building on this site constructed? The earliest mention of a Gothic tvrz on the site dates to around 1529. The building took on its current Baroque appearance following a major reconstruction carried out by the Schwarzenberg family in 1719.

Who owned the fortress over the centuries? Past owners included the Kalenice z Kalenic family, Zikmund Ludvík z Trauttmansdorffu, and the Schwarzenberg family, followed in more recent times by Dr. Karl Häsler (2005-2017) and Hana Sirůčková (since 2023).

Is there a chapel on the grounds? Yes, the complex includes a chapel dedicated to St. Barbara.

Can the fortress be visited today? The fortress is privately owned and currently under restoration, so it is not regularly open to visitors - its Baroque exterior can, however, be seen while passing through the village.