Curious about a place where earwigs and starlings might lend their names? That place is \u0160kvorec. \u0160kvorec is a market town in the Prague-East District of the Central Bohemian Region. It has a story stretching back centuries.
\u0160kvorec’s history began with its first written mention in 1279. King Vladislaus II promoted \u0160kvorec to a market town in 1497. Jan \u0160kvoreck\u00fd of Klin\u0161tejn ruled at that time. Albrecht von Wallenstein acquired the market town in 1621. He quickly sold it to Karl I of Liechtenstein a year later. The House of Liechtenstein owned \u0160kvorec until 1848. That year marked the establishment of a sovereign municipality.
The name \u0160kvorec has interesting roots. It likely comes from the Czech surname \u0160kvor or \u0160kvorec. \u0160kvor means “earwig” in Czech. However \u0161korec meant “starling” in old Czech. Take your pick of insect or bird perhaps both have fluttered around this place.
Geographically \u0160kvorec sits 15 kilometers east of Prague. It rests on the border between the Prague Plateau and Bene\u0161ov Uplands. The hill Na Placht\u011b marks the highest point at 391 meters.
Today \u0160kvorec has about 2200 inhabitants. The municipality includes two parts. These are \u0160kvorec and T\u0159ebohostice.
The \u0160kvorec Castle is the town’s main landmark. It is also known as Savoia Castle. It is now privately owned. The castle serves as a hotel and restaurant. Imagine staying in a place with centuries of history.
Another key sight is the Church of Saint Anne. This late Baroque building dates back to 1759-1767. It stands on the site of a demolished older church.
There are no railways or major roads passing directly through \u0160kvorec. This adds to its charm and tranquility. It remains a place slightly set apart.
\u0160kvorec was indirectly first mentioned in 1279. However it was not fully documented until 1404. This Gothic castle was rebuilt into a Renaissance palace during the 1520s. The devastating Thirty Years’ War saw it looted and burned in 1639. It lay in ruins until 1710.
Restoration in the Baroque style followed. Between 1860 and 1884 much of the compound was demolished. This was partly due to the construction of a local municipal school.
In 2008 a family of Russian-Italian immigrants bought the almost ruined remnants. They gradually restored it. They promote it under a new name Savoia Castle. This alludes to a noble family connection. The chateau became partially accessible to the public in May 2016. Since then it has hosted cultural and commercial events.
\u0160kvorec offers a glimpse into Czech history. From nobles to religious centers to modern restoration it has seen many changes. The blend of its past and present makes \u0160kvorec a unique place to explore.