Imagine a medieval knight standing where we are now. He surveys his land from a gothic tower. That tower is part of Zámek Dolní Počernice. The history of this place is long. It began as a medieval fortress.
Zámek Dolní Počernice started as a 14th-century fortress. The first written record dates back to 1401. It mentions Jan of Cach. He owned nearby Čelákovice. The record speaks of inheritance matters. It also gives the first glimpse of the fortress. Its origins are unclear. Until the 1970s people thought no remains existed. But they found gothic tower-like structures. The castle’s eastern wing is built upon them. Further research is limited now.
The fortress changed hands several times. Each owner left their mark before 1527. It expanded with a late-Gothic addition to the north. This emphasized its residential character. A newly built church tower took over defense. Later a Renaissance reconstruction occurred.
In 1562 the entire estate went to the ruler as a death gift. The royal chamber sold it to Matěj Hůlka. Ferdinand I elevated him to nobility. He became known as Matěj Hůlka of Počernice. The new owner constructed the west wing. Rib vaults in the ground floor date from this time. Faint sgraffito can still be seen on the facade.
After the Battle of White Mountain the castle was confiscated. Jan Kapr of Kaprštejn bought it cheaply. From 1664 to 1769 the Counts of Colloredo-Wallsee owned Dolní Počernice. They gave the Zámek Dolní Počernice its current appearance.
In 1856 the Hungarian Dercsenyi family moved in. They owned Počernice until 1923. Baron Vojtěch Dercsenyi gave the Zámek Dolní Počernice to Prague. He asked for only a symbolic crown.
The surrounding park is expansive. It features the Počernice pond. Today the baroque style remains. The garden transformed into an English park. It is open to the public. The Zámek Dolní Počernice includes an old and new section. The old castle dates back to 1780. It is a two-winged one-story building. It sits closer to the church. The new castle was built in the 19th century. It includes a connecting wing. Some baroque elements remain in the garden. These include a gazebo vases and a terraced staircase.
The Zámek Dolní Počernice park is part of a nature reserve. It is one of Prague’s category II parks. You can find it in the village center. It lies between Národních hrdinů and Ke hrázi streets. The Velký Počernice pond borders it. The Rokytka River flows nearby. Historical buildings surround the park’s north side. These include the Zámek Dolní Počernice the mill the brewery and the orangery. The Church of the Assumption is also close. Over 1100 trees grow in the park. Many are protected.
The park was established with the castle. It sits on a former pheasantry. In the 1820s it was urbanized. Paths led to the pond and wooded areas. In the 1870s the forest became a landscape park.
The Dercsenyi family were the last owners of Zámek Dolní Počernice. In 1923 Prague acquired the castle. In 2004 the park gained a new look. It created a unique area. People from Dolní Počernice and beyond visit.
In 2015 Prague received a grant. This helped restore the park’s historical appearance. A former nursery became an educational and relaxation space. It respects the area’s history. New leisure opportunities were created.
Today Zámek Dolní Počernice stands as a testament to time. It has seen fortresses nobles and families. Now it welcomes all.