TOURIST DESTINATIONS

When, on the frosty morning of 6 March 1645, the armies of the Swedish kingdom, with a lion on the coat of arms, and the Austrian Empire, with eagle on banners, the Peace of Westphalia was still three long years away. Numerous other battles were fought before and after the Battle of Jankov (Jankau) across the western and northern Europe. Nevertheless, the Battle of Jankov was considered a breaking point that definitely changed the power ratio between the warring parties and in consequence contributed to speeding up the peace negotiation, which concluded on 24 October 1648 with signing of a treaty setting the new spheres of influence across Europe.

The castle built by Arnošt František of Vrtba was first mentioned in 1743. In the middle of the 19th century, the Vratislavs of Mitrovice had it rebuilt in Neo-Gothic style, especially the arcades with pointed arches. In 1948 it was confiscated from the Langhamers, now it has been returned to their descendants.

In 1720 František Adam Trauttmansdorff commissioned the well-known Czech architect F. M. Kaňka to build a castle that would correspond to his position as a leading nobleman. The castle is a typical noble residence of the High Baroque period and its decoration was done by leading artists such as M. B. Braun, V. V. Reiner or F. A. Scheffler.

The church dominates the village of Chotýšany.  Its beginnings are recorded in the vicarage chronicle and date back to1315. The shrine is built in an originally Roman style, but the style of the building is affected by the transition of the style and therefore with prevailing Gothic style features.

At the beginning of the 15th century, the fortress was owned by Mikuláš (Mikeš) Divůček (Divoký, which means “Wild”) of Jemniště and Cimburk. He entered the services of King Václav IV. and at his court he also met Jan Hus. He belonged to his closest friend and in 1414 he warned him against the trip to Constance.