Červený Hrádek

Červený Hrádek is a neo-Gothic château roughly two kilometers east of the center of Sedlčany, tucked into a bend of the Mastník stream in Central Bohemia.

How do you get there?

The château sits in a small settlement of the same name that administratively belongs to Sedlčany, so it's only a short drive — or a walk of about half an hour — from the town center. It makes an easy add-on for anyone already visiting Sedlčany, pairing a genuine piece of history with a large surrounding park that invites a slower afternoon outdoors.

What will you see?

The site's story goes back to the 13th century: the first written mention of a fortified stronghold here dates to 1285. What stood on the spot originally was a Gothic water fortress, protected by a moat fed from the Mastník stream. The building's current romantic, part neo-Gothic, part Art Nouveau look is the result of a major reconstruction begun in the mid-19th century by Baron Jan Nepomuk Mladota of Solopisky. Work ran from 1844 to 1894, and from 1895 onward it was led independently by Jan Kotěra, one of the leading figures of Czech Art Nouveau architecture, whose hand gave the château its distinctive decorative details.

The Mladota family of Solopisky held the estate continuously from 1837 until 1948, when it was nationalized and Jan Mladota left the country. After 1989 the property was returned to the family through restitution, and it later passed to Nikolaus Lobkowicz of the Mělník branch of the family. The château has been protected as a cultural monument since 1965.

An English-style landscape park spreads around the building, informal and loosely planted in the romantic 19th-century fashion — and it's the park, rather than the château itself, that's open to visitors day to day, since the building remains privately owned.

Film buffs may also recognize the setting: Červený Hrádek served as a filming location for the classic Czech comedy "Trhák" (1980).

When should you visit?

The château's interior opens to the public only occasionally, mostly for classical and swing music concerts and for private events such as weddings — worth checking Sedlčany's local cultural listings if getting inside is the goal. The park, by contrast, is freely accessible year-round and looks its best in spring and autumn, when the surrounding greenery sets off the building's red façade.

Frequently asked questions

Can visitors go inside the château? The château is privately owned and opens to the public only occasionally, mainly for classical and swing music concerts or private events. The surrounding park, however, is open to everyone.

Where does the name Červený Hrádek come from? The name means "Red Little Castle" and refers to the color of the building's façade, which stands out against the greenery of the park and the surrounding countryside.

Who redesigned the château into its current Art Nouveau shape? The rebuilding was launched by Baron Jan Nepomuk Mladota of Solopisky between 1844 and 1894, and from 1895 it was carried on independently by architect Jan Kotěra, who gave the building its Art Nouveau character.

Is there anything else to see nearby? Yes — Sedlčany itself is worth a stop for its square and historic center, and the surrounding Central Bohemian countryside offers hiking and cycling routes along the Vltava valley and the Slapy reservoir.