Homestead Nr. 10

Homestead Nr. 10, known locally as Váchův špejchar, is a protected historic farmstead with a Baroque granary in Řadovy, part of the Drážkov cadastral area within the Svatý Jan municipality in the Příbram district of Central Bohemia. The whole property has been listed as a Czech cultural monument since 1987, and since 2010 it has housed a small museum dedicated to the site's history.

What will you see there?

The heart of the farmstead is a four-story granary raised in the second half of the 17th century, around 1680, on the foundations of a damaged late-Gothic stronghold — possibly wrecked during the Thirty Years' War. The building kept the massive, defensive proportions of the earlier fortress: thick walls, narrow window openings, and a sturdy frame that served for generations as grain storage. Next to the granary stand the farmhouse and outbuildings, arranged around an enclosed courtyard typical of manor farms in this part of Bohemia.

What is the history behind it?

The village of Drážkov is first mentioned in written records in 1257. According to the property's owners, a medieval stronghold originally stood on this spot, built around the turn of the 13th and 14th centuries. Since at least the time of the Thirty Years' War, in the first half of the 17th century, the farm has been worked by a single family, the Váchs — the source of the site's popular name, Váchův špejchar, or "the Vách granary." Such an unbroken, multi-generational line of ownership is unusual for a farmstead in the Příbram region.

How was the monument restored?

After the farmstead was declared a cultural monument in 1987, a long restoration process began. The residential building was repaired in 2001, and in 2004 the courtyard was rebuilt along with new water, sewage, and electrical installations. The hardest task was restoring the granary itself — the dominant structure of the whole complex, which had fallen into serious disrepair. Work on it started in April 2008, and the final phase was formally approved on October 22, 2009. The following year, on May 15, 2010, the restored building opened to the public as the Váchův špejchar museum, giving visitors access to the interior of the former stronghold and to information about the region's history.

How to get there?

Řadovy sits in a quiet, rural corner of the Příbram district, close to the Orlík reservoir, which makes the area appealing to travelers who want to combine sightseeing with time by the water. The most convenient way to reach it is by car, along country roads through the Svatý Jan municipality. Because it is a small, locally run site, it's worth checking current opening hours before visiting, as access can be seasonal or by prior arrangement.

When to visit?

Summer and early autumn are the best times to come, when the weather is pleasant for walking around the grounds and touring the interior of the old stronghold. These months also make it easy to pair a visit with a stop at the nearby Orlík reservoir. Outside the main season, access to the museum may be limited, so it's best to plan ahead.

Frequently asked questions

What is Homestead Nr. 10 in Řadovy? It's a historic farmstead with a Baroque granary built in the 17th century on the foundations of a medieval stronghold, protected as a cultural monument since 1987.

Where does the name Váchův špejchar come from? From the Vách family, who have farmed the property continuously since the time of the Thirty Years' War up to the present day.

Can visitors go inside the granary? Yes — since 2010 the restored building has housed a museum devoted to the farmstead's history and the region's traditional agriculture.

When was the monument restored? The main restoration work ran from 2001 to 2009, and the museum officially opened on May 15, 2010.