Treasures in Trčka's Castle

The local monastery is among the most important surviving centres of early medieval civilisation. A Benedictine monastery was founded in 1144, and Premonstratensians arrived in 1149. On the south side of the chancel in the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary is a small altar from around 1750 with a Rococo copy of the Black Madonna of Old Brno. Associated with the monastery is the Renaissance building called Trčka's Castle, built under King George of Poděbrady. According to legend, twelve silver apostles and a golden statue of the Redeemer rest in the cellars. Many searches followed, but accounts differ: some place the treasure below the church, others in the convent garden or Trčka's Castle. A humorous teasing tale is also linked to it. Only a statue of St Matthias was supposedly found, holding a sign reading, 'I know nothing of the others; ask Philip.' But Philip was never found, hence the joke that the people of Želiv 'have no Philip', a Czech expression also meaning they have no wit.