The castle grounds of Kňovice are located in the village courtyard. Their history spans from a former fortress to the pseudo-Gothic redesign of the castle in the 19th century. At the same time, a yellow-marked hiking trail and cycle route 8135 pass through the village. This means your choice of destination can combine architectural history with different route options.
Castle History Across Several Periods
The former Kňovice fortress was the predecessor site of the castle and was first mentioned in 1542. The Baroque castle was built in the period after the Battle of White Mountain. In the 19th century, a pseudo-Gothic redesign gave it its present appearance. Its origins and current form therefore belong to different historical periods. If you are interested in how a building has developed, you can view this transformation as a sequence over time, rather than attributing the castle’s present appearance solely to its original construction period.
The Chapel and Castle Park
The Chapel of St. Joseph stands in the castle park, opposite the castle’s south façade. A stone perimeter wall with two gates surrounds the park. This places the chapel in relation to the castle not only by name but also by its exact position. The wall and gates also define the park’s boundaries.
A biographical tradition also connects the site to Josef Mánes: the portrait “Josefína” is said to depict his maid Františka “Fanynka” Šťovíčková, who was born in Kňovice. This story adds a personal connection between the place and art history to its architectural history.
Traces of Early Settlement and More Recent Local History
Two stone flat axes found in Kňovice are considered evidence that the area was settled as early as pre-Slavic times. This period lies far before the fortress was first mentioned in 1542. The perspective on the area’s history thus ranges from early signs of settlement to the castle’s later construction phases.
The history of the 20th century is also part of understanding Kňovice. On 31 October 1943, the village was forcibly incorporated into the Waffen-SS Benešov military training area; after 1945, residents returned to their homes. This turning point is markedly different from the castle’s construction phases: it concerns the history of the village and the return of its residents after forced displacement. Both perspectives belong in a cultural-historical picture of Kňovice—the changes to the castle’s appearance and the forced change during the Second World War.
Planning Hiking and Cycling
A yellow-marked hiking trail passes through Kňovice; cycle route 8135 runs from Příčov through the village to a junction near Nová Ves. The two offer different ways to navigate when planning: the yellow markings for hiking, and the numbered route with named points for cycling. Check the markings and signs on site before choosing your route.
For your planning, you can compare the yellow-marked hiking trail through Kňovice with numbered cycle route 8135, which runs from Příčov through the village to a junction near Nová Ves.
Discover more destinations: Těchařovice, Sedlčany, Hrimezdice, Čím, Buková U Příbramě, Drhovy, Višňová, Radětice
For the broader travel overview: Okres Příbram.
