Vinoř

Vinoř is the northeasternmost district of Prague, formally a municipal district known as Prague-Vinoř. Though it has been administratively part of the capital since 1976, it has kept the feel of a small suburban settlement, with a history reaching back to the Middle Ages, two historic residences and a Baroque church that draw visitors looking for a quieter side of Prague away from the tourist center.

How old is Vinoř and how did it become part of Prague?

The first written mention of the settlement dates from 1088, when Vinoř belonged to the estate of the Vyšehrad chapter. Over the following centuries the village changed hands several times while remaining an agricultural settlement on Prague's outskirts. It became part of Prague in practice in 1976, as the postwar city expanded, and was formally granted the status of a municipal district under the name Prague-Vinoř on 24 November 1990. Today Prague-Vinoř retains a distinct character, clearly different from the denser, central parts of the city.

What can you see in Vinoř?

The oldest historically documented building in the settlement is the local Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. Originally a Romanesque single-nave structure, it was rebuilt into its present Baroque form in 1727-1728. The work was carried out by the builder F. M. Kanka, who erected the new church on the site of the earlier Romanesque structure.

The second major landmark in Vinoř is its castle. Construction began in 1719 at the initiative of František Josef Černín and was completed in 1724. Like the church, the castle was designed and built by F. M. Kanka. The building is currently managed by the Czech Ministry of Interior.

Within Vinoř's boundaries, in the Ctěnice settlement, stands Ctěnice Castle — one of the few preserved medieval fortresses dating from the second half of the 14th century. Around 1550, Mikuláš Hrzán of Harasov rebuilt the old fortress into a Renaissance château, giving it a form close to what visitors see today.

Who is Vinoř for?

This part of Prague suits visitors who want to see more than the historic city center and who are interested in Baroque sacred architecture and noble residences in a less crowded setting. The proximity of two castles — one Baroque, the other with medieval roots rebuilt in a Renaissance style — makes it possible to trace several centuries of architecture within a small area.

Frequently asked questions

Is Vinoř a separate town or part of Prague? Since 1990, Vinoř has formally been a municipal district of Prague, operating under the name Prague-Vinoř, although it has practically belonged to the capital since 1976.

What is the oldest landmark in Vinoř? The oldest historically confirmed building is the Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, whose Romanesque origins predate its current Baroque form from the 1727-1728 reconstruction.

How many castles are located in Vinoř? Vinoř and the neighboring Ctěnice settlement together hold two residences: the Baroque Vinoř Castle, built between 1719 and 1724, and Ctěnice Castle, a former medieval fortress rebuilt in Renaissance style in the 16th century.

Who built the church and castle in Vinoř? Both buildings — the Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross and Vinoř Castle — were built by the same builder, F. M. Kanka, in the first half of the 18th century.