Chvalka

Slithering through Prague’s landscape, the Chvalka stream whispers tales of centuries past. The Chvalka isn’t just a waterway; it’s a thread woven into the fabric of Prague’s history, connecting us to the city’s earliest days. Chvaly, the area surrounding the Chvalka stream, first appears in records dating back to a 12th-century charter, purportedly from 1088, concerning the Vyšehrad Chapter and the Chval farm. The document speaks of the farm eventually passing into the hands of Prague patricians. The Chvalka witnessed the tumultuous power struggles of the 15th century. In 1428, amidst inheritance disputes, Janek Rokycanský gained control of Chvaly, and the “Chvalská fortress” is mentioned for the first time, hinting at a structure overlooking the Chvalka. Over the next centuries, the “Chvaly fortress, the court with debts, the whole village and the yards” changed hands through sales and inheritance. The Chvalka flowed on as the landscape around it transformed. One notable owner, Nicholas Karg of Regensburg, likely oversaw the fortress’s conversion into a chateau. The Chvalka witnessed the turmoil of the Thirty Years’ War. In 1622, George of Vtelno, having lost half his fortune, sold Chvaly to Jan Daniel Kapr of Kaprštejn. Unable to repay his debts, Kapr’s son ceded the “desolate” Chvaly farm to the Jesuit College in 1652. The Jesuits, meticulous in their management, revived the farm, incorporating demolished peasant and farmhouses into their mansion, expanding their landholdings around the Chvalka. By the mid-18th century, the Chvalský farm encompassed not just Chvaly but also Šestajovice, Čertousy, and Ďáblice. Records from 1767 reveal significant funds allocated to the manor’s repair and restoration, suggesting improvements extended beyond the castle to the farm buildings along the Chvalka. After the Jesuit Order’s abolition in 1777, the Chvalka estate fell under the administration of State and Ex-Jesuit Estates. The 19th century brought further changes, with brewery and wine-making operations documented. The Chvalka continued to flow as the surrounding area evolved. Records from 1822 depict a well-maintained manor farm, in contrast to its earlier desolation. Throughout the late 19th century, builder Lábler and architect Mach left their mark with documented work on the farmyard and stables. As the 20th century dawned, the chateau and farmyard remained the property of the study fund, eventually falling under the management of the State Farms of Xaverov in 1955. Sadly, the once-grand buildings fell into disrepair. Today, the Chvalka flows on, a silent witness to centuries of change, reminding us of the rich tapestry of Prague’s history.