Chvaly Castle, Renaissance château in Horní Počernice, Czech Republic.
Chvaly Castle is a Renaissance château in Horní Počernice that evolved from a medieval fortress and displays a blend of historical and restored elements. The structure contains preserved embrasures, extensive cellars, and underground passages running beneath the entire building.
Chvaly is first recorded as a village around 1088 and again in 1130, when Soběslav I confirmed it as property of the Vyšehrad chapter. A Gothic fortress is documented from 1428; Prague Jesuits held the estate from 1652 and built the Chapel of St. Anne in 1660. The fortress burned in 1734 and was repaired into château form, retaining traces of an earlier Renaissance conversion; the south wing was demolished in the mid-19th century.
The first floor holds a permanent exhibition of graphics, paintings, illustrations and personal items from the estate of the painter Ludmila Jiřincová. Short-term art exhibitions and family events are also held here, such as an interactive exhibition on Odysseus's travels in February 2015.
The château stands at Na Chvalské tvrzi 857 in Horní Počernice, forming one building complex with the adjoining Church of St. Ludmila. Repairs funded partly by European funds were completed in 2008, so the interiors now serve as exhibition rooms. The grounds are reached from the centre of Horní Počernice, on the eastern edge of Prague.
On the grounds stands the Church of St. Ludmila, originally built in 1660 as a castle chapel, which later received a prominent tower. This connection between castle and church reflects the religious and political ties common to noble estates.
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