Bečváry Castle

Bečváry Castle is a late-Baroque and Rococo residence in the village of Bečváry in the Kolín district, built in the mid-18th century on the site of an earlier fortified manor.

Where does the village of Bečváry come from, and what stood here before the castle?

The village is first recorded in 1265, held by a man named Horyna z Bečvář. By the 16th century the estate had become part of the Červený Hrádek domain. In 1603 Jaroslav Myška ze Žlunic built a fortified manor house (tvrz) on the site, which passed in 1627 to Jan Oktavián Vchynský, later known as Kinský. The manor fell into disrepair during the Thirty Years' War, and by 1734 it was being used only as a storehouse.

When was the present castle built, and by whom?

The current castle went up in 1749–1750 on the orders of Jan Josef z Pfeffershofenu, replacing the old manor on the same spot — the date is confirmed by inscriptions found in the roof timbers. Just three years later, in 1753, the estate was bought by Jiří Hillebrandt z Prandau. From 1763 it belonged to General Ernst Gideon von Laudon, who received Bečváry as a gift from Empress Maria Theresa.

What changes did General Laudon make?

Between 1766 and 1774 Laudon carried out a thorough Rococo remodelling, based on designs by the Prague architect Jan Josef Wirch and executed by Ignác Jan Nepomuk Palliardi, a Czech builder of Italian descent. The eastern wing was rebuilt for representation, gaining a ceremonial hall and a chapel. The sculptural decoration of the staircase is the work of Ignác František Platzer, while in 1774 the frescoes in the main hall were painted by Josef Hager and Josef Jáchym Redelmayer — the latter also painted the altarpiece of the Holy Trinity in the Chapel of St Michael.

What does the castle's architecture look like?

Bečváry is a four-wing building arranged around an inner courtyard, covered by a mansard roof. The western, southern and northern wings kept their Baroque appearance, while the eastern wing, facing the garden, was rebuilt in the Rococo style. The castle is regarded as one of the most significant Rococo monuments in the Czech Republic.

What happened to the castle after Laudon?

In 1776 Laudon sold the estate to the royal chamber, and in 1780 it passed to Archduke Karl Ludwig of Austria-Teschen. Martin Liška bought it in 1824, and from 1883 to 1927 it belonged to Klára Kateřina Barbora Frenglová. After 1945 the castle was confiscated by the state; it then served as an archive of the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences and gradually fell into disrepair.

Who restored the castle, and can it be visited today?

In 1995 the musician Robert Kodym bought the castle and began its gradual restoration, largely completed between 2000 and 2011; the frescoes themselves had already been conserved in 1978, under the direction of Jaroslav Alt. The building has been protected as a cultural monument since 31 December 1965. It remains privately owned and is not open to the public.

Frequently asked questions

How old is Bečváry Castle? The present building was constructed in 1749–1750, making it nearly three centuries old, though a fortified manor had already stood on the same spot since 1603.

Who commissioned the Rococo remodelling of the castle? General Ernst Gideon von Laudon, who owned the castle from 1763, had it rebuilt between 1766 and 1774 to designs by the architect Jan Josef Wirch.

Can visitors tour Bečváry Castle? No — the castle is privately owned (by the musician Robert Kodym since 1995) and is not open to the public.

Where exactly is Bečváry Castle located? In the village of Bečváry in the Kolín district of the Czech Republic, a little over a dozen kilometres from Kutná Hora.