Villa Dreucici

History of Citadel

revcici Citadel is situated on the north-east part from Prague some 18 kms from the Centre. The destination is easy to reach using one of three possible ways.

he first written note is dated in the year 1052, when the prince Bretislav, the sovereign of Bohemia, donated "Villa Dreucici" to the church in Stara Boleslav.

n the year 1332 a noble named "Bartho Kokot" lived in the Drevcici Citadel.

n the year 1364 Jan the Bishop of Litomysl lived in the citadel and from this place he managed the tax-business of his town Svitavy.

the end of the 14th century the enemies of Mikulas the Bishop of Olomouc, namely Ales of Cimburk, captured the Citadel. In a short time on the order of the King the Drevcici Citadel was given back to the bishopric of Olomouc and in April 1396 personally to the Bishop Mikulas. The possession of the Citadel (including the village – ”sessione Drzewczicz”) was ratified personally by the king Vaclav IV. The Bishops of Olomouc kept the Citadel including the village several years without interruption.

ith the aim of a financial help to the Bishopric, the Citadel together with the grounds was pledged in accordance with Vaclav, the administrator of the Bishopric, to the sovereign of Vratislav, Mr. Janek of Chotěmice.

n the year 1437 Jetrich Tluksa from Vrabi advanced a loan of 700 three-score of gross ( a unit of money) to Janek of Chotemice for the right of possession of the Drevcici Citadel and accessories for the period of four years. The text of the pledge is the part of a document in which the residence of Drevcici is not mentioned as the citadel but as a castle. "Drzewczicz municio prope Pragam inscripta duobus consaguinei Johanni et Jonanni Wrabssczy nuncupatis ad vitas eorum dumtaxat", thus ”The Drevici Citadel at Prague is kept in pledge by Jan and Jan of Vrabi to their lives".

n the year 1469 the king Jiri of Podebrady renewed the pledge of the Citadel at the annual price of 10 three-score 38 gross, which was also confirmed by the king Vladislav of Jagellon in the year 1472.

n the year 1547, the year of uprising of the part of the Czech estates and towns against the sovereign Ferdinand I., Jan of Vrabi (descendent of the family Vrabi) came to the forefront of history and happened to be even one of the representatives of the Czech Estates. It is more than obvious that after the defeat of the rising his active role in it was rightfully punished. Jan had to acknowledge his deep and severe offence and as a punishment he was sentenced to home imprisonment, the fine of 500 three-score of grosses, loss of his possessions and to the service of the king with two horses.

fter Jan´s death the ownership of the place passed to his sons Hynek and Karel, which started another very dramatic part of the history of the Drevcici Citadel. Both brothers lived in peace obviously till the year 1562. At that time was passed a judgement over the sovereign of the neighbouring empire Brandys with regard to the hunting on their pieces of land.

he final descendent of the family Vrabi Hynek died during the year 1584 and was buried in the Church of Saint Barthold in Drevcici. The Drevcici Citadel was then joined together with the accessories to Brandys and thus it lost its residential function.

he Drevcici Citadel is a historical monument placed on the list of Czech historical monuments. Today's use is for catering purposes with a reconstruction of historical styles (ranging from gothic to country ones). The capacity of the place is up to 2000 persons. Three floors of the main building and one floor of the gothic dependence furnished as a pub are suitable for the groups from 20 to 900 persons sitting at the tables. The programme is prepared in a style with two hours of passive participation (guests are looking at the programme while eating and drinking) and two hours of activities (guests have the chance to participate in outdoor and/or indoor games and activities). One of the main features of the place is the fact that the reconstruction of history is very detailed. Each guest is provided with their own civil cloth the medieval cape so that the global view of the medieval time is not interfered.