Byšice Castle

Byšice Castle is a weathered baroque manor complex in the village of Byšice in the Mělník District, built on the foundations of a Renaissance fortified house from the late 16th century. It's a stop for visitors interested in Bohemian noble history and abandoned architecture rather than a polished sightseeing attraction.

How did the estate at Byšice begin?

The village of Byšice itself is first recorded in 1321, when it belonged to the knightly Byšický family. The first manor house on the site, however, dates from around 1577, when Albrecht Pětipeský of Chyše and Egerberk built a Renaissance fortified residence (tvrz) here.

Who owned the estate over the centuries?

After Albrecht's death, the property passed to his son, Šťastný Václav Pětipeský, who became one of the directors of the Bohemian Estates' uprising against the Habsburgs. Following the uprising's defeat, the estate was confiscated from him. In 1623 it was bought by Polyxena of Lobkowicz, and in 1719 it passed to the Czernin family, who attached it to their neighboring Mělník estate.

When did the current baroque building take shape?

Around the turn of the 17th and 18th centuries, the old Renaissance fortified house was rebuilt into a four-wing, two-story baroque rectangular building arranged around an inner courtyard. Through the 18th and 19th centuries the castle was further altered, mainly its interiors, while a park and garden in the rococo style were laid out around the building.

What can visitors see today?

From the second half of the 19th century onward, the castle was no longer permanently inhabited by its owners and served only as a summer residence; the building itself was increasingly adapted to the agricultural needs of the large Mělník estate it belonged to. The whole complex is today badly dilapidated. The main castle building was at some point secured with a temporary tin roof to prevent total collapse, but since then it has received essentially no maintenance. Visitors should expect to view a neglected, historic exterior rather than furnished interiors open for touring.

Where is the castle located?

Byšice lies in the Central Bohemian Region, in the Mělník District, close to the town of Mělník itself, known for its own castle and vineyards above the confluence of the Elbe and Vltava rivers. This makes Byšice a convenient side trip for anyone exploring the Mělník area who wants to see a lesser-known but historically interesting site.

Frequently asked questions

When was Byšice Castle built? The first noble residence on the site, a Renaissance fortified house, was built around 1577 by Albrecht Pětipeský of Chyše and Egerberk. The building took on its current baroque form around the turn of the 17th and 18th centuries, when it was rebuilt into a four-wing complex around a courtyard.

Who owned Byšice Castle? The estate passed through the Pětipeský family, then to the Lobkowicz family after Polyxena of Lobkowicz bought it in 1623, and finally to the Czernin family, who acquired it in 1719 and attached it to their Mělník estate.

Can you visit Byšice Castle? The complex is heavily deteriorated and has gone largely unmaintained for decades, with the main building only provisionally secured under a temporary tin roof to stop it from collapsing. It is not a site with regular visitor access or furnished rooms to tour.

Where is Byšice Castle located? The castle stands in the village of Byšice in the Central Bohemian Region, within the Mělník District, close to the town of Mělník.