Popovice Water Fortress

Originally a moated fortress, later transformed into a château, the property in Popovice near Benešov in the Central Bohemian Region is a significant historical monument with a rich and evolving past.

The first written record of the fortress dates to 1354, when it was owned by Ondřej of Popovice. It is, however, believed to have been founded earlier in the 13th century. In the 14th century, the fortress was surrounded by a water moat fed by a nearby pond and was accessible via a drawbridge.

During the Hussite Wars, the fortress was captured in 1420 by Mikuláš of Hus. From 1488 onward, it was owned by the Popovští of Bezejovice family, who rebuilt it in the Renaissance style. The originally Gothic structure was expanded in the 16th century into a Renaissance château, as evidenced by preserved sgraffito decoration on the façade, particularly on the northern wing. Gothic windows and doorways with pointed arches have survived on the ground floor.

In the 18th century, the building was modified in the Baroque style, particularly during the ownership of the Knights of the Cross with the Red Star. In the 19th century, it was used for industrial purposes, including as a weaving workshop and a distillery.

After 1989, the property was returned to its former owners through restitution and gradually underwent restoration. Today, the fortress is a protected cultural monument and represents an important example of the evolution of noble residences from the Gothic period through the Renaissance to the Baroque era.

We acquired the property in 2025. We are currently evaluating its future direction and exploring the most appropriate form of its next chapter.