Chotýšany: Church, Castle and History

Chotýšany brings together the Church of St. Gall, the castle complex and surviving traces of the former fortress, along with crosses and a chapel in the village. At the Nový Pond, there is also a small park and sport fishing; pottery and events in the surrounding area round out the picture. When planning your trip, it is worth distinguishing enduring historical landmarks from seasonal events.

Church and Castle in Chotýšany

The Church of St. Gall is considered a landmark of Chotýšany. Its earliest written records date from 1350. The church has a single nave and a western tower; its present appearance dates from a reconstruction in 1884. This makes it possible to distinguish its early written mention from its later architectural form as separate historical stages.

The protected castle complex lies in the northern part of the municipality, west of the Church of St. Gall. It comprises the castle, two granaries, a stable, an agricultural building, the fortress, boundary walls, a castle park, a garden and a statue of St. John of Nepomuk. The castle park is also among the protected features. The castle combines different building periods: the south wing is Baroque and dates from before the mid-18th century; the north wing is Neo-Gothic and was built before 1841.

Fortress, Crosses and Chapel

The former fortress stood within the grounds of the old farmyard, immediately next to the castle. It had a detached residential building dating from the late 13th or early 14th century. After it ceased to be used as a residence, the fortress was first converted into a brewery and later into a distillery. The surviving remains are the ground floor of a rectangular, tower-like residential building and part of a curved defensive wall.

A stone cross was erected in the village square on 28 September 1881. In 1928, it was moved next to the war memorial, where it still stands today. A chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes was also built in the village square in 1933 and consecrated on 13 August of that year. An iron cross known today as “Kuthanův křížek” stands between two lime trees and was placed on a stone pedestal around 1990.

A wayside shrine stands on the road from Chotýšany, at the junction leading to the settlement of Onšovice and the former “U Váňů” mill. The crosses, chapel and wayside shrine are distinct historical and religious landmarks; for the crosses, both an exact date of erection and a later relocation are documented.

Pond, Pottery and Events

Chotýšany’s Nový Pond, formerly called “Židák,” is used for sport fishing. A small park with ornamental trees and shrubs was created around it. If you plan to include fishing in your trip, check the current options in advance.

Ivana Syslová mainly makes wheel-thrown, glazed and fired functional pottery. You can see her work at pottery, annual and farmers’ markets in the surrounding area. Her pottery is predominantly glazed white, blue or green and decorated with incised patterns or small dots. These features give a concrete impression of the materials, colors and decoration used in local crafts.

The Friends of Chotýšany Association is associated with the Chotýšany festivities, music evenings and theatrical performances. If you would like to plan an event into your trip, check the specific dates in advance.

A Seasonal Look at the Surroundings

In the neighboring cadastral area toward Benešov lies Jemniště Castle, about 3 km from Chotýšany. The castle offers tours of the castle and park, as well as summer theater performances for children and concerts during Advent. The different time periods can help with planning your trip: theater performances are scheduled for summer, and concerts for Advent. If you plan to attend one of these events, check the specific dates before your trip.

Discover more destinations: Vlašim, Krňany, Cercany, Smilkov, Soutice, Zvěstov, Libež, Neustupov

For the broader travel overview: Benešov District.