Castle in Bělá nad Radbuzou

The castle in Bělá nad Radbuzou is a small Renaissance manor house standing on the western edge of the town of Bělá nad Radbuzou, in the Chodsko region of western Bohemia, close to the Bavarian border. Modest in scale - just a single storey - the building nonetheless carries a history that stretches back to the early Middle Ages.

How old is the settlement itself?

Bělá is first recorded in written sources in the Chronicle of Cosmas, compiled around 1121, making it one of the earliest documented places along this stretch of the Czech-Bavarian borderland. Until the 16th century, the settlement's fortunes were tied to the nearby royal castle of Přimda, which guarded a key trade route through the region.

Who actually built the castle?

The structure visitors see today is considerably younger than the settlement. In the first half of the 16th century, the Bělá estate, together with the neighbouring manor of Újezd Svatého Kříže, passed to the Bavarian knightly family of Lamingen von Albenreuth. Emperor Rudolf II sold the property to a certain Jeroným Puchfelder in 1600, but it returned to Lamingen hands soon afterward. The small Renaissance house in the western part of the village is generally linked to Wolf Joseph Lamingen, recorded as lord of Bělá in 1615 - a date of 1614 carved into a window frame suggests the house was built together with the neighbouring brewery.

What changed after the Battle of White Mountain?

The Protestant defeat of 1620 had direct consequences for the estate. Wolf Joseph Lamingen lost the property to confiscation in 1623; it passed to his brother Wolf Wilhelm, who had remained loyal to Emperor Ferdinand II and was rewarded with several estates across the Chodsko region, including the neighbouring Újezd Svatého Kříže. A later chapter is recorded in a coat of arms carved above the entrance, commemorating the Cukr von Tamfeld family, who administered the estate between 1686 and 1796.

What condition is the castle in today?

The building's more recent history has been rougher. A fire in 2014 left it badly damaged, and for several years afterward it stood neglected and slowly deteriorating. That changed in 2018, when the town of Bělá nad Radbuzou bought the decaying building and its surrounding land. After years of preparation, repair works finally got underway, with completion originally targeted for 2024 - the castle is gradually being brought back from the brink.

When can you visit?

The castle keeps a modest, small-town schedule. It is open Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 8:00 to 11:00 and again from 13:00 to 16:00, while Wednesday afternoons run longer, from 13:00 to 17:00. Given its size and local character, it is worth checking ahead rather than expecting the visitor infrastructure of a larger stately home.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the castle located? On the western edge of the town of Bělá nad Radbuzou, in the Chodsko region of western Bohemia, near the German border (coordinates: 49.5918 N, 12.7137 E).

Is this a large, imposing castle? No - it is a modest, single-storey Renaissance house, closer in scale to a manor than to a grand aristocratic seat.

Was the building ever destroyed or badly damaged? Yes, a fire in 2014 caused serious damage, and the building went without proper upkeep for several years afterward.

Who owns the castle today? The town of Bělá nad Radbuzou has owned it since 2018 and has been overseeing its gradual restoration.

What are the opening hours? Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 8:00-11:00 and 13:00-16:00; Wednesday from 8:00-11:00 and 13:00-17:00.