Pitkovice

The first documented owner of Pitkovice’s fortress was Ota z Pitkova in 1234. That’s quite a history isn’t it? Picture this. You’re standing in Pitkovice a Prague neighborhood with roots stretching back centuries. Pitkovice’s name itself means the village of Pitkov’s people. This area was owned by the Knights Templar at the end of the 13th century a fascinating detail often overlooked. Albert Stuk a Bohemian nobleman owned Pitkovice around 1340. His descendants the Pitkovští of Pitkovice held it until 1520. After them the Strnadové of Tryskovice owned the settlement. Václav Strnad the last of them sold it in 1589. Jaroslav of Smiřice acquired Pitkovice adding it to his Uhříněves estate. The Lichtensteins later owned it. Pitkovice briefly existed as an independent community before becoming part of Benice then gaining independence again around 1920. Since 1961 it has been part of Uhříněves. Did you know Pitkovice originally consisted of two settlements Pitkovice and Pitkovičky? The division ran along the road to Česlice. The lord of Uhříněves gave land for houses to his servants creating Pitkovičky. However he stipulated that these inhabitants would belong administratively to Uhříněves. Their school and church were in Uhříněves thus differentiating them from Pitkovice residents whose school and church were in Česlice. In 1921 they united becoming one town called Pitkovice. A significant historical structure is a two-story gatehouse and gate. The gatehouse has richly shaped and profiled molding dating to the second half of the 18th century. These are remnants of the former enclosed farmyard possibly built on the site of the original fortress. Near the fire station stands a wooden bell tower from the 19th century. This folk structure with a bell-shaped roof called a “zouvák” has one bell. After undergoing repairs in 1947 and 1964 it was in disrepair. Thanks to funding from the Prague City Monuments Board it was restored at the end of 2000 and put back in its original location. A time capsule with documents was placed in its foundation on June 21 2001. East of the Pitkovický stream is a hill formerly known as Belvedere now a nature reserve called Pitkovická stráň. It has rare flora most notably pasqueflower. So here you stand in Pitkovice a place with a rich history a blend of noble ownership and common life. It’s a story woven into the very fabric of this Prague neighborhood.