CASTLE RUINS

The castle was built in approximately 1300 in a narrow valley on a promontory at the confluence of the Tisemský potok and Janovický potok rivers.  Ctibor of Kožlí was recorded as the first owner in 1318.  His successor was Kunrát of Kožlí from 1362 who lived there with his brothers Mareš and Heřman of Chvojno.

The Renaissance farm yard, one part of which still has a unique vault, stood east of the fortress and at the time of its greatest boom was the central yard for the vast estate from Konopiště to Komorní Hrádek. At the beginning of the 18th century, the construction of a Baroque chateau was started in the north-west corner of the courtyard.

As the chronicle written by the so called Beneš Minorita states, the Benešov Minorite Convent was established in 1247 by a provost of the Old Boleslav canonry Tobiáš of Benešov. Tobiáš was supposed to give the new community the Benešovicové family seat that was located on a promontory, nowadays known as Karlov, above the present day town. Only the remains of the pentagonal presbytery with two gothic windows were preserved.