“What secrets does this landscape hold?” I ask myself. Right before us stands Vyhlídka Špička Brnky. It is a viewpoint offering vistas. Let’s uncover the story of this place.
Brnky itself is a village. It lies in the Praha-východ District. This is part of the Central Bohemian Region. The first written record of Brnky dates back to 1233. At that time, the settlement belonged to the monastery of St. George at Prague Castle.
In 1406, villagers paid taxes to the Břevnov Monastery. From the start of the Hussite Revolution, Brnky was under the administration of Prague’s Old Town. The town owned the village until 1547.
After 1620, Brnky was looted. Then it was sold in 1641. It changed owners several times thereafter.
Brnky also has a castle. It dates back to 1662. The Jesuit order built it on the site of a former fortress. They were based in Prague’s New Town. The castle had extensive grounds. These included barns a smithy and apartments. Most of these structures disappeared in the second half of the 20th century.
Today the castle is in disrepair. Its roof even collapsed in 2008. Though some roof repairs happened in 2014, they later stopped. In the winter of 2017, the castle was abandoned again. Damaged fences and broken doors made it accessible.
Near Vyhlídka Špička Brnky is a natural monument. It is the Vltava canyon near Sedlec with the Špička rock. This area is part of a larger protected area. There is also the Dolní Povltaví Nature Park nearby.
Consider the Drahanské Valley too. Also called Drahaňské or Drahanské. It is a romantic valley. The Drahanský stream flows through it. You can find the Drahanský mill and Prdlavá studánka there. These are part of the Drahaň-Troja Nature Park.
Vyhlídka Špička Brnky is a window to history. It is also a place of natural beauty. From here one can reflect on the past. One can also appreciate the present landscape. The village has seen centuries of change. The castle whispers tales of nobility. The surrounding nature offers peace.