Tvrz Pasovary

Tvrz Pasovary is the Gothic ruin of a medieval fortified manor in the municipality of Světlík, in the Český Krumlov district of southern Bohemia, set in the rolling countryside of the Pošumaví region. The ruin stands on the site of the former village of Pasovary, which vanished after the Second World War — today the settlement itself has left no trace, and the crumbling manor is the only physical reminder that it ever existed.

Where does the name come from, and who lived here?

The village of Pasovary was first recorded in 1278, when the estate belonged to the lords of Cipín, also known as the Pasovarští. The stone manor house that survives today was built later, in the second half of the 14th century. In the early 15th century the property passed to Matěj Višeň of Větřní and stayed with the Višeň family for generations. In 1623 the estate was confiscated from its owner, Jan Višeň, over his part in the Bohemian Estates Uprising against the Habsburgs. A year later the town of Český Krumlov bought the confiscated property — a purchase that ended the manor's life as a residence and set it on a path toward decay.

What survives on site today?

What remains is mainly a roughly rectangular tower rising in the middle of an overgrown, partly collapsed courtyard. The surrounding walls still carry original stonework — window and door frames along with corbels, the stone brackets that once supported parts of the structure above. The site is unfenced and largely unsecured, which makes it easy to walk right up to, but also means visitors need to watch their step: several cellars and sunken pits lie within the ruin and pose a real hazard, particularly for children. Pasovary has been protected as a cultural monument since 1958.

One of the surviving cellars has been taken over by a local civic association, Z Pasovar, which runs a small museum there dedicated to the history of the manor and the vanished village around it. It's a good place to start before wandering further among the remaining walls.

How do you get there?

Pasovary can be reached on foot from Český Krumlov by following the blue-marked hiking trail toward Lipno. The route passes through the village of Slavkov, from where it's still just under 3 kilometers to the site, the final stretch running along a forest path that leads directly to the ruins. There are no official opening hours or on-site staff — the manor is freely accessible year-round, which makes it an appealing stop both for history enthusiasts and for anyone looking for a quiet walking route away from the crowds.

What else is worth seeing nearby?

The area around Pasovary holds several more remnants of medieval fortified houses. The tvrz at Trojaň lies less than 2 kilometers away, and the tvrz at Slavkov is about 2.3 kilometers distant. The Church of St. James the Greater in Světlík itself is roughly the same distance away. All three make it easy to combine Pasovary into a single, several-hour walking loop through the historic corners of the Pošumaví countryside.

Frequently asked questions

What was Tvrz Pasovary? A Gothic fortified manor built in the second half of the 14th century, serving as the seat of a succession of noble families, including the Višeň of Větřní, until the estate was confiscated in 1623.

Why is it a ruin today? After the 1623 confiscation and the estate's sale to the town of Český Krumlov in 1624, the manor lost its role as a residence and was gradually abandoned to decay.

What exactly has survived from the building? Mainly the tower standing in the middle of the former courtyard, along with fragments of stone window and door frames and several corbels.

Can the ruins be visited on your own? Yes — the site is unfenced and open at any time, though visitors should be careful of the cellars and sunken areas within the ruin.

How do you walk to Pasovary from Český Krumlov? Follow the blue-marked hiking trail toward Lipno through the village of Slavkov, then continue along the forest path that leads straight to the ruins.