Tchořovice: Fortress, Village Square and Hořejší Pond

Tchořovice is shaped by a protected cultural monument, the architecture around the village square and the Hořejší Pond Nature Reserve. If you are looking for a hotel for a trip to Tchořovice, these themes can guide your choice of destination: historic buildings, the natural area around the pond or one of the routes described. They differ in their courses and in the places they connect.

Fortress and Village Square

Tchořovice Fortress is a protected cultural monument. Its archaeological site contains a surviving two-storey, four-winged granary surrounded by ditches and bodies of water. Access is from the east via a stone bridge with two arches. Remains of Renaissance sgraffito are preserved on the exterior façade. The description thus covers both the granary’s form and its location among bodies of water and ditches, as well as access via the bridge.

Another focus is the village square. Its defining feature is the Chapel of St. Wenceslas, built in 1878. Houses No. 10 and 12, in the rural Baroque style, also stand on the village square. The chapel is identified by its year of construction, while the two houses are described by their architectural style. This makes it possible to see different architectural features on the square without assigning them the same period.

Hořejší Pond and Nature Reserve

The Hořejší Pond Nature Reserve lies on the western edge of Tchořovice and is home to highly diverse animal communities. The protected area includes the historic Hořejší Pond at the confluence of Hradišťský potok and Smolivecký potok (Lomnice). Both the protected natural area and the historic pond and its location at the confluence are therefore significant in understanding the place.

The pond is also a landmark on one of the routes described. On the “Kolem rybníků” circular route, the path in Tchořovice leads to the dam of Hořejší Pond. From the dam, there is a view of the 14th-century Gothic fortress. Here, the destination’s two distinctive features—the pond and the fortress—meet along a specific stretch of the route.

Circular Route, Hiking Trail and Cycle Tour

The “Kolem rybníků” tour is a 12.2-kilometre Vrbno–Tchořovice–Vrbno circular route. Before reaching Tchořovice, it passes through the airfield grounds. In the village, it continues to the dam of Hořejší Pond, from which the Gothic fortress can be seen. The description of this tour therefore provides both the circular route between Vrbno and Tchořovice and specific waypoints in the village.

A different route is offered by the blue-marked hiking trail: it starts at the railway station, runs along the edge of Tchořovice and leads to Podtchořovický mlýn. The two hiking options therefore differ in their described courses and destinations: “Kolem rybníků” is designated as a circular route via Vrbno and Tchořovice, while the blue-marked trail leads from the railway station along the edge of the village to the mill.

A cycle tour is also described. The Blatná–Tchořovice tour starts at the Blatná Information Centre and initially follows Cycle Route 31. Its stated starting point and first named section provide a point of reference for this cycle route; it therefore differs from the hiking trails described.

Regional Orientation

Road I/20 is a specific point of reference for locating Tchořovice within the region. It passes through Tchořovice and connects České Budějovice with Plzeň. Together with the information about the fortress, village square, nature reserve and routes, this provides several points of reference for assessing Tchořovice as a destination based on your interests and choosing a hotel accordingly.

Discover more destinations: Uzeničky, Kváskovice, Střelské Hoštice, Myštice, Budyně, Horní Poříčí, Brezi, Chlum.

For the broader travel overview: Okres Strakonice.