Ostrov u Záp Fortress

Ostrov u Záp is a ruin of a medieval fortress from the 14th century, located in the part of the Island near the village Zápy in the Praha- east district. Since 1966 it has been protected as a cultural monument and represents the remains of a fortified building.

The first explicit mention of the claim in the documents dates back to 1398. In the late Middle Ages, the construction was designed to be surrounded from three sides by ponds that provided natural protection.

The oldest part of the building is the oblong palace, from which a well-arched cellar with a saddle portal remained. At the turn of the 14th and 15th centuries, a new two-space palace supported by three pillars was built on the north side. This part now leaves a wall with a window on the ground floor and the remains of the ferret on the floor. An oval tower was added to the magnificent side of the building. The original fortification was no longer preserved.

In 1398 the fort belonged to Prague townspeople. Before the Hussite wars, it was owned briefly by the Canons of Prague, but then returned to the hands of the townspeople. In 1453 it was acquired by Václav Hrzán z Harasova. Since the 1980s, the owners took turns, until 1609, when the building was purchased by Emperor Rudolf II. and connected to the Brandy estate. Since then, the fort has only been used for economic purposes. In the 19th century, the tower and other buildings were gradually demolished.

The characteristic details of the building include a saddleware cellar and a specific location in the pond landscape. The historical development of the building from the noble residence to the economic building under the administration of the Habsburg power reflects changes in the social and political structure of the region.

The remains of the fort are now located in a private garden and are therefore not freely accessible to the public. Yet they remain an important witness to medieval architecture in this location.

This ruin offers a view into the architecture of medieval fortifications and reminds of the former importance of the village Zápy. It's a place that's worth paying attention to every person interested in local history.