Třebotov Castle

Třebotov Castle, known locally as tvrz Třebotov, is a Renaissance fortified manor house standing in the village of Třebotov in the Prague-West district, right next to the settlement of Solopisky, which has administratively belonged to Třebotov since 1848. Solopisky itself is older than the manor — the hamlet was first recorded in 1305, when it was held by Mladota Prosinka of Drást, ancestor of the Mladota noble family of Solopysky. In 1630 the estate passed to the Zbraslav monastery and became part of its monastic domain.

When was the fortified manor built and who owned it first?

The earliest written records of the manor house itself date to 1361, naming Prague burghers known as the Bavorové as its holders. In 1374 a certain Henslin sold the property, together with four peasant farmsteads and a vineyard, to Merklín Stach, a burgher and judge of Prague's Old Town.

How did ownership change over the centuries?

From 1387 the manor belonged to the lords of Valdek — a family also recognizable today to players of the video game Kingdom Come: Deliverance, which is set in the same part of Central Bohemia. It was the Valdeks who, in the early 15th century, rebuilt the original stronghold into a moated water fortress. In the 1540s the estate was bought by Matouš Hovorčovic, a burgher of Prague's New Town, whose family was subsequently ennobled with the predicate "of Kolivá hora," named after a nearby hill. The Hovorčovic family held Třebotov until 1615. The next owner, Jan Ledčanský the Elder of Popice, had the estate confiscated in 1622 as part of the reprisals following the Bohemian Estates Revolt against the Habsburgs. From roughly the 1630s onward the building lost its defensive role — Czech records stop referring to it as a "tvrz" altogether, and it was gradually converted into a palace-style residence.

What does the manor's architecture look like today?

The building is a single-story, four-wing structure arranged around a square inner courtyard lined with arcades. Renaissance features dominate, though Gothic elements and later Baroque additions survive as well, including a Baroque chapel of St. John of Nepomuk that seats around 14 people. A clock tower with an onion-domed roof above the main entrance was removed in the late 19th century, which restored the building's plainer, fortress-like silhouette. A thorough reconstruction ran from 2000 to 2003, carefully preserving architectural details from every historical layer of the building. The manor is now protected as a cultural monument of the Czech Republic.

What is the manor used for today?

Since 2017 the property has been owned by the Suchý family, who run it as a private accommodation and event venue. It offers stylishly furnished apartments for around 28 guests, along with sports facilities and a wellness area. It is a popular wedding venue: the hall known as the Gallery can host ceremonies for up to 80 seated guests or 100 standing, while the adjoining English garden, centered on a statue, is frequently used for outdoor ceremonies. Banquet capacity tops out at roughly 36 seated guests and 80 for a standing reception. As a privately run estate, it is visited mainly through booked events rather than as a regular sightseeing stop.

Frequently asked questions

Is Třebotov close to Prague? Yes — the village lies in the Prague-West district a short distance from the Czech capital, making it an easy day-trip destination.

What is the relationship between Solopisky and Třebotov? Solopisky was once an independent village and is now a settlement within the Třebotov municipality, administratively joined to it since 1848 and located about 0.75 km south of the Třebotov center.

Can visitors tour the manor? The property is privately owned and operates mainly as a wedding, conference, and accommodation venue, so casual sightseeing without a booked event is limited.

Is it a castle or a fortified manor? Czech sources consistently call it a "tvrz" — a fortified manor house — rather than a "zámek" (chateau), even though it is commonly rendered as "castle" in English tourism naming conventions.