Dobříš

Direct in town, you find the ponds Papež and Koryto. The characteristic town-dominante froms a castle with French and English parks. Castle is in ownership of Colloredo-Mansfeld parentage. According to the legend, Dobříš was founded by Dobřich, one of  thanes of  Forefather Čech.

First  written notice come from 13th century and mention Boříš as a King´s Hunting Courtyard. In 14th and 15th centuries belonged to Aristocracies Owners, Rosenbergs´and Stephen of Tetín. During the reign of Jan Lucemburský, the Emperor Maximilian II  declared the town  as a town with a sign and economy privileges. In that time, the Jewish community is reminded and the oldest  gravestones of local Jewish cemetery come from this period.

Within the period of Oldřich Doudlebský of Doudleby and reign of Emperor Rudolph II, there were even  breedeing of camels on spot. Dobříš was definitely cut from  King´s Crown in 1630, when a Count Bruno of Mannsfeld bought this dominion. However, 30-years´war damaged a town, but afterthat, Dobříš became rich and develop (Iron works, which created working places, were founded).

However, at the beginning of 18th century thetown´s development was stopped by plague epidemy and big fire. In 1745, the construction of ostentations late Baroque castle was started, inspired by castle Schonbrunn in Vienna. When in 1780 the parentage of Mannsfeld was extincted  (by sword), Frank Colloredo´s wife brought him Dobříš castle , so parentage Colloredo-Mansfeld  was created. At that time, the building of Church dedicated to Holy Trinity, in a place of destroyed Loreta-Chapel.

New Neo-classical town hall was finished in  19th century, Post-Office Station was established, railway-line and  telegraphic office joined  the town in 1897 with capital Prague.

In 1853, Dobříš was officially raised to town  with 3000 inhabitants and a seat of District Court was founded here.

As to local industry: most famous became  manufacturing of gloves. In 20th century, the factory of gloves-production was built here and metalworking production  started its activity as well. Finally, the 20th century noted great industrial development in general.

Places of interest – monuments:

The most important monument of Dobříš is that of Colloredo-Mannsfeld Castle, built in 1745-1765. However, in 1942 in was confiscated by German Third Reich, during Communism period served as a seat of Chechoslovak Writers and finally, in 1998 returned to private ownership again. At  present, it is fully open for public. The part of a castle form English and French Rococo gardens, directly in a castle is town´s museum.

During a period of Frank Colloredo-Mannsfeld there was,  just opposite a castle, built (by Frank Joseph Moravec)-in 1791-1797 - Church of Holy Trinity.

Church of  Raising of St.Cross (founded by Oldřich Doudlebský of Doudleby) was reconstructed  in 17th century and used by Manssfelds as a Family Tomb.

Jewish cemetery – the oldest  gravestone come of middle 17th century. Its reconstruction – after 2nd World War was made in 1980.  You can visit the cemetery – after phone call order – with an administrator.

Vargač – was created on place of a castle of middle 14th century. Emperor Charles IV let rebuilt it to a stony castle, the building was damaged as well as reconstructed several times.

It served as a parsonage, during Mannsfeld period as a granary, now it is in ownership of private person and is not open for a public.

Photo: Klára Svobodová 

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