Tvrz Křepenice

Tvrz Křepenice is a Renaissance moated fortress in the village of Křepenice near Sedlčany, tied to one of the most famous names in Czech pond-building history, Jakub Krčín of Jelčany.

How do you get there?

Křepenice sits a few kilometres from Sedlčany in the Příbram region, roughly an hour's drive southwest of Prague. Driving is by far the easiest option — a short road runs from Sedlčany straight into the village, where the fortress stands on a low rise surrounded by a former fishpond. Travellers without a car can take a bus to Sedlčany and continue on foot or by bike; the final stretch is an easy walk through typical Sedlčany-region countryside.

What will you see?

The building's foundations date back further, but its present form comes from the 1580s, when Jakub Krčín of Jelčany bought Křepenice from Vilém of Rožmberk in 1580 and, four years later, commissioned a Renaissance water fortress modelled on the South Bohemian chateau of Kratochvíle. He named it Nový hrádek Krčínov and actually lived there between 1590 and 1597. The central building was ringed by an earthen rampart with corner bastions topped with Renaissance gables, and the façades were decorated with sgraffito ashlar work imitating cut stone. A pond called Návesník surrounded the whole complex, and a stone bridge provided the only approach — a layout that combined defence with Renaissance showmanship.

After the Second World War and the property's expropriation in 1948, the fortress served in turn as the seat of the local collective farm, the local national committee, and a youth-organisation office. Everyone left the building in 1985 and it began to fall into disrepair. The turning point came in the early 1990s, when a family descended from an earlier owner filed for restitution; the estate is now privately managed by Pavel Chudárek.

Can you actually visit?

Yes, but not on a drop-in basis. The fortress remains private property, doubling today as a base for sheep farming, and its owners have long-term plans to open a museum on site. Tours can be arranged by calling the owners directly and asking politely for access. Don't expect fixed opening hours or the kind of tourist infrastructure you'd find at a major castle — this is closer to a personal visit to a place that has kept its unpolished, lived-in character.

When should you go?

Spring through autumn is the best window, when the surrounding greenery and the walk around the former Návesník pond are at their most rewarding. Because a visit depends on arranging access with the owners in advance, plan ahead rather than counting on a spontaneous stop.

Frequently asked questions

Who built Tvrz Křepenice? Jakub Krčín of Jelčany, the celebrated pond-builder, gave the fortress its Renaissance form in 1584, modelling the water stronghold on Kratochvíle chateau and naming it Nový hrádek Krčínov.

Is the fortress open to the public? It's privately owned. Visits happen by prior telephone arrangement with the owners, who also use the grounds for sheep farming.

How old is the fortress? A residence existed on the site earlier, but the Renaissance building seen today dates from 1584, built under Jakub Krčín's direction.

What is Návesník? Návesník is the pond that once encircled the fortress, working together with its rampart and bastions as a defensive water ring; a stone bridge was the only way across.