Tchořovice Fortress

Tchořovická stronghold is a Gothic residence in the municipality Tchořovice, district Strakonice. In the middle of the 16th century it was rebuilt into the Renaissance style and later served as a granary. Its historical value lies in preserved building elements and complex history of owners dating back to the 14th century.

The fortress was built in the 14th century by members of the Tchořovice family. The first known owners were Jan z Tchořovic (1372) and Jodok z Tchořovic (1389). Beneš z Tchořovic followed, who was co-patron of St. Bartholomew's Church in Kocelov in 1393- 1400.

The fort area consists of four two-storey buildings around approximately a square courtyard. It's coming up the stone bridge from the east side. The original single-storey form has been transformed into a granary, but the Gothic and Renaissance elements are preserved in the masonry. On the facade visible remains of sgraffite and in the passage of the wall painting. The remains of the water ditch, originally powered from the Upper Pond, are preserved on the eastern and northern sides.

The possession of the fort has undergone many changes. It was bought by Vilém z Vartenberka a ze Zvířetic before 1409. Between 1432-1454, Petr z Vartenberka was based, followed by his widow, Eliška. From 1473 to 1489 Janu belonged to the elder of Běšin and was purchased by Bohuslav Muchek z Bukova before 1495. His descendants owned the fort until 1653, among them George, the brothers Oldřich and Václav, or Volf Muchek z Bukova. After Oldřich Muchk's death in 1587, his family branch died out and a part of Tchořovice with the court fell to the Innaire estate. After inheritance and debt, the tchořovice farm in 1653 was sold to Adam Matyas of Trauttmansdorff, joining the Lnář fort.

Significant events include 1454, when Petr z Vartenberka had to judge Peter Ice Cream from Svojšín, who violently occupied the fort. The Earth Court ordered the farm returned. The next event was the death of Oldřich Muchk in 1587 in a duel with Christopher Chanovsky of the Long Village.

Today the fort is protected as a cultural monument. After the loss of the original function, it was converted into a granary, which affected its current form. The object represents a valuable example of architecture, where the Gothic foundations are interconnected with Renaissance elements and subsequent economic use. It is suitable for visiting anyone who is interested in authentic traces of medieval and Renaissance mansions.