Castle in Rokytnice v Orlických horách

Rokytnice v Orlických horách Castle stands in the small town of the same name, tucked into the Orlické hory (Eagle Mountains) near the Czech-Polish border, and has served as a manorial seat for this mountain district for over five centuries.

How old is this castle?

The story starts in the late 15th century, when the Rokytnice estate was split off from the neighbouring Rychnov estate in 1487. A fortified manor house already stood here at that time — a modest, tower-like residence typical of minor border nobility, built with defence rather than comfort in mind, fitting for an isolated mountain district far from major towns.

When did it stop being a fortress?

The turning point came in the second half of the 16th century. In 1567, Sigmund Licek of Rýzmburk sold the Rokytnice estate to Joachim Mauschwitz of Armenruh. It was Mauschwitz's son, Kryštof, who after 1600 had the old stronghold rebuilt as a Renaissance residence, trading its austere, defensive character for the more representative style favoured by Bohemian nobility of the period.

What gave the castle its current look?

The next major transformation came with the Baroque era. Otto, Free Lord of Nostitz, began modernising the building in the second half of the 17th century, and the work was carried further in the early 1700s by Kryštof Václav of Nostitz. Between 1703 and 1710, the castle was rebuilt in Baroque style, gaining features that still define it today — most notably an oval hall and a castle chapel, both adding a formal, ceremonial dimension to the residence.

What happened to it in the 20th century?

The Nostitz family held the estate for generations. Under Marie Anna of Nostitz, a Czech municipal school was set up inside the castle, giving the building a practical, community-facing role alongside its residential one. After the Second World War, under decrees issued by President Edvard Beneš, the property passed into national administration — a common fate for estates once owned by German nobility along the Czech borderlands.

For decades afterward, the castle received uneven care and gradually fell into disrepair. That changed in 2011, when a systematic restoration effort began, gradually returning the building closer to its historic condition and opening it up further to visitors.

Why is it worth a visit?

Few buildings this size let you trace so many layers of history in one place: a medieval defensive tower, a Renaissance makeover, and a Baroque flourish complete with an oval hall and chapel. Together they record how the tastes and needs of a succession of owners shifted over more than four hundred years. The setting adds to the appeal — the Orlické hory are known for hiking and cycling trails, making it easy to combine a castle visit with time outdoors in the surrounding mountains.

Frequently asked questions

How old is Rokytnice Castle? A manorial seat already stood here by the late 15th century, but the building's present Baroque appearance dates mainly from a reconstruction carried out between 1703 and 1710.

Who owned the castle? Recorded owners include the Licek of Rýzmburk family, the Mauschwitz of Armenruh family, and — for the longest period — the Nostitz family, who oversaw the Baroque rebuilding and the estate's later history.

Is the castle currently being restored? Yes. Restoration work has been under way since 2011, aiming to bring the building back closer to its historic condition.

What architectural style defines the castle today? The dominant style is early-18th-century Baroque, though traces of the earlier Renaissance rebuilding from just after 1600 are still visible in the structure.