Jezuitská rezidence (Petrovice u Sedlčan) Jesuit residence

Welcome to Petrovice. You're standing right now in front of a remarkable historical monument to the Jesuit residence here. When you look up and look around you, before your eyes is an early Baroque storey building dating back to the second half of the seventeenth century. Feel the extraordinary atmosphere of a place that breathes old times. The building has a rectangular plan and is oriented directly to the square. Its appearance bears traces of building development, which took place over long centuries, and forms a natural and very important part of the wider historical area together with the local castle. Let the ancient walls work on you and follow us on a short journey to the depths of the past.

Now let's move back in time to 16 hundred and sixty-six. That's when Petrovice was bought by members of the order called the Krašovice Jesuits. They then built two residences in this place, which were intended to serve as a small or also a summer residence for the members of Tovarysch Jesus. This building is so faithful to the profound influence of these order throughout the region during the period of so-called Baroque reCatholisation. Life in this building and its surroundings was closely linked to spiritual and administrative efforts at the time. For centuries, it brought about various changes, the most significant of which was the year seventeen hundred seventy-three. In this year, Tovarysch Jesus was officially dissolved by the then monarch, who was the emperor Josef the Second, which led to a fundamental change in ownership of the entire building. But history continued and brought new owners and new fates. A few decades later, namely in the year eighteen hundred and six, he bought the entire petrovic estate Jan Václav Bechyně z Lažan. The building gradually changed its faces until it reached the twentieth century when another significant chapter of its existence came. In the year nineteen hundred thirty and five, the residence had undergone a major modernization and a complete reconstruction, which a doctor named Josef Abraham deserved at that time. He gave the ancient seed a new form to serve as a common residence.

Now pay attention to the architecture itself and the details you have right in front of you. Look at the main entrance to the building. Above it is a characteristic element, which is a high prism tower. At the entrance you can also admire an interesting portika, which gives the entire facade a festive character. When you follow the line of construction, you realize that this storey building represents a valuable part of our country's cultural heritage. The architects who once designed this building and breathed life into it remained unknown until today, but their work speaks for them and bears traces of the craftsmanship of their time.

When we immerse ourselves in the history of this place, we find that it is linked to a whole range of significant historical figures. The most famous names that appear in chronicles and records associated with Petrovicemi include Jakub Krčín z Jelčan a Sedlčan, Přibík Jeníšek z Újezda, Lidmila Kateřina z Talmberka, already mentioned Jan Václav Bechyně z Lažan, or also Vladimír Zhorský ze Zhorze a z Kronberka and, last but not least, Dr Josef Abraham, who modified the object for modern living. Each of these personalities has left its own mark in the history of the site, whether by managing property, by building modifications or by social influence.

When we stop at interesting things, it is fascinating to think that this building has been in its place for centuries and remembers the times when the landscape and society have changed radically. The influence of Jesuits in this area was not only a matter of faith, but also of landscape and property management. The fact that the original church summer residence became a seat for everyday life and modern home shows how historical buildings managed to live on in completely different social conditions. This whole area, including the castle and this Jesuit residence, thus forms the memory of the region, which is worth seeing through all senses.

We hope you enjoyed the tour of this place and that you enjoyed the time you spent before this interesting historical monument. You can now continue to discover the other beauty of the surrounding area or take a walk along Petrovic Square. We thank you for your attention and wish you a wonderful rest of the day. Goodbye.