Castle Doubí

Castle Doubí is a small, picturesque manor house perched on a rocky spur above the Ohře river, in the Doubí district a few kilometres southwest of central Karlovy Vary. It was never one of the region's grand seats of power, but its winding history — from medieval stronghold through Baroque makeover to today's year-round Christmas house — makes it one of the more surprising stops near the spa town.

Where is Castle Doubí, and what's the setting like?

The building sits on a low outcrop above the Ohře, right in the middle of Doubí, a district of Karlovy Vary roughly six kilometres from the city centre. A viewing terrace, laid out as far back as the 17th century, looks out over the river valley — a view that's at its best on summer mornings and evenings.

What is the history of the castle?

The first written mentions of a stronghold on this spot go back to the mid-14th century — sources cite the year 1369, when the estate belonged to the knight Frencl of Dub. The original fortress was conquered in 1447. In the 16th century it was rebuilt in the Renaissance style, turning the old defensive stronghold into a residential seat, and in the following century a park with a viewing terrace was added.

The biggest transformation came in 1739–1756, under the ownership of Julius Henry and Josephine Eleanor Mulcová of Valdov, née Countess Metternich — it was during this period that the building took on its Baroque character, with a chapel (first documented in writing in 1700) built into the outer bastion. The current pseudo-Renaissance appearance dates from the late 19th century, when the castle was redesigned by architect František Mader.

The 20th century was less kind to the building: in 1945 it briefly served as the headquarters of a Red Army command, and in the following decades it housed offices for various state enterprises, gradually falling into disrepair.

What can visitors see at the castle today?

At the turn of the 21st century the building underwent a thorough reconstruction carried out by a private company from the Karel Holoubek – Trade Group. The restored complex opened to the public in June 2002 as a stylish castle inn with a restaurant, wine bar and a permanent sales exhibition. Today it's home to the first and only year-round Christmas House (Vánoční dům) in the Czech Republic — a place where the Christmas atmosphere holds all year, whatever the season outside.

Little survives from the original medieval fortress. The oldest surviving elements are a semicircular bastion housing the Baroque chapel, and two barrel-vaulted cellars — the only parts of the structure that predate the 19th-century rebuild.

How do you get to Castle Doubí?

Doubí lies on the road connecting Karlovy Vary with Cheb and is well served from the city centre both by car and by local public transport. Given its restaurant-and-exhibition role, the castle pairs well with a walk along the Ohře valley or a visit to the other attractions of the Karlovy Vary spa area.

Frequently asked questions

What is Castle Doubí? A small manor house in the Doubí district of Karlovy Vary, built on the site of a mid-14th-century stronghold and later reshaped in Baroque and pseudo-Renaissance styles.

When was the castle first built? The first mentions of a stronghold on the site date to 1369; its current pseudo-Renaissance look comes from a late-19th-century redesign by architect František Mader.

Who gave the castle its Baroque appearance? Julius Henry and Josephine Eleanor Mulcová of Valdov, née Countess Metternich, between 1739 and 1756.

What operates in the castle today? A year-round Christmas House (Vánoční dům) — the only one of its kind in the Czech Republic — open since 2002 alongside a restaurant and wine bar.

What survives from the original fortress? A semicircular bastion containing the Baroque chapel, and two barrel-vaulted cellars.