House at the Balls

This historical house gets its name from the distinctive decoration on its façade—cannonballs of various sizes that were discovered during the demolition of the nearby Putim Gate (which took place between 1812 and 1836). These cannonballs were later embedded into the wall, giving the house its unusual name. The façade also features Renaissance-era sgraffito artwork.

The house is closely connected to the Czech literary tradition, particularly through the writer Fráňa Šrámek, who once stayed here. Within the inner courtyard, you’ll find a memorial dedicated to Otakar Ševčík, a renowned violin teacher.

Just a few steps away, across a small stone bridge, visitors can enter a restored section of the town’s medieval Gothic moat—an atmospheric reminder of Písek’s fortified past.

Fráni Šrámka 131, CZ-39701 Písek

Moat opens: IV-IX 7-21 h, X-III 7-18 h