Chřenovice Castle: A Medieval Fortress in the Czech Republic

Visitor Information

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Official Website: www.hradchrenovice.cz

Country: Czechia

Civilization: Medieval European

Site type: Military

Remains: Castle

History

Chřenovice castle is located in the municipality of Chřenovice-Ledeč nad Sázavou in the Czech Republic. It was established during the medieval period by members of the local nobility. Its founding dates back to before 1289 when Lev of Janovice, believed to be an ancestor of the lords of Chřenovice, built the fortification.

In the middle of the 14th century, the castle was held by two brothers, Milota and Bernart of Chřenovice, signaling the continuation of the family’s control over the property. By the early 15th century, ownership shifted outside the noble line when a Prague citizen, Hanuš Otlinger, acquired the castle. Otlinger sold it shortly after 1414 to Kunrát Náz, a burgher from the mining town Kutná Hora, marking a transfer of the castle to a prominent urban elite.

The Náz family maintained control for several decades, with the last known member residing at Chřenovice being Jan Náz, who appears in historical records in 1474. That year, he sold the castle to the lords of Říčany. Subsequently, Chřenovice was integrated into the larger Ledeč estate. Over the following decades, it lost its importance and was eventually deserted. By 1545, sources confirm that the castle was no longer inhabited, marking its decline into ruin.

Centuries later, in recognition of its historical significance, the remains of Chřenovice have been protected as a cultural monument since 1963, preserving what remains of the site for archaeological and heritage purposes.

Remains

Chřenovice castle is a classic example of a bergfried-type medieval fortress. A bergfried is a tall, often round tower used primarily for defense and as a last refuge, rather than permanent residence. The entire castle sits on a promontory rising about 370 meters above sea level, overlooking the right bank of the Sázava River. Its main defensive enclosure is roughly triangular, with two deep, narrow ditches carved across the neck of the promontory to cut off access.

In the northwest corner stands the castle’s prominent round bergfried tower, which was originally part of the surrounding curtain wall. This tower’s walls in the ground floor are impressively thick, measuring about 2.5 meters, and the surviving ruins rise to nearly 20 meters high. The original entrance to the tower was located high above ground level, reached by a vaulted doorway approximately 12 meters up, which would have provided an added layer of security. Traces of battlements remain on the upper walls, characterized by merlons—solid upright sections of the parapet—each topped with a small protective roof.

The castle’s residential area was attached at the eastern corner, where the palace once stood, providing living quarters for its inhabitants. On the northeastern side of the site, an additional defensive feature called a zwinger—an enclosed, narrow space between walls designed to trap attackers—was constructed. During a later phase of construction, the main entrance gate was moved to this section, offering a more secure approach.

In the 15th century, further fortifications were added in the form of a forward bastion, consisting of a square tower surrounded by a defensive wall. This outwork strengthened the castle’s ability to resist assault. Although only fragments of its masonry survived into the 19th century, today this bastion no longer remains visible.

Over time, some of the castle’s ruins suffered damage in recent history, notably during the construction of a dance floor on or near the site, which impacted the remains. Despite this, the core structural elements, including the main tower and ditches, still provide significant insight into the castle’s medieval defensive design and layout.