Beneath that somewhat dilapidated facade lies a tale of resilience. This is Zámek Čertousy a baroque manor nestled in Prague’s Horní Počernice district. It stands as a cultural monument.
Once upon a time a fortress stood here in 1400. Ješek Vrabec a maltster from Old Town held it. It seems the fortress was abandoned during the Hussite wars. It vanished by the end of the 15th century.
The baroque Zámek Čertousy you see today emerged in the 18th century. Stylistic features suggest its construction dates back to that era. The exact origins and the identity of its builder remain shrouded in mystery.
An English park once graced its western side. This was before 1948. After that year Zámek Čertousy served as lodging for employees of the State Farm Prague.
Tragedy struck on August 19 2022. A fire engulfed the roof of the unused Zámek Čertousy. The blaze destroyed the roof and interior. Even the perimeter walls suffered damage. Difficult terrain hampered firefighting efforts. Firefighters brought the fire under control in about two hours.
Today the акcion society Čertousy a. s. based in Prague’s Prosek owns the decaying structure.
The rectangular design has a simple courtyard facade. The English park was on the west. A farmyard is on the opposite side now.
In 1357 the castle was sold to Archbishop Arnošt of Pardubice. Charles University acquired it in 1366. It was devastated during the Thirty Years’ War. The university owned it again until 1788.
The Methodist mission established a social institute here during the First Republic. Its operation stopped in 1948. The Zámek Čertousy was returned to the Methodist mission in 1999. It is unfortunately decaying.
Zámek Čertousy stands as a reminder of Prague’s rich past. It reflects both its triumphs and tribulations. Its walls whisper stories of medieval fortresses. They tell of baroque elegance and the more recent scars of neglect. The exteriors are accessible. But the Zámek Čertousy itself remains closed a silent testament to time’s passage.