Červený Újezd — a village near Unhošť with a castle that is younger than it looks

Červený Újezd is a small municipality in the Prague-West district, home to roughly 1,700 residents and located a few kilometres west of Prague's boundary, on the way toward Kladno. It sits about 2 km south-east of the town of Unhošť, bordering the villages of Svárov and Ptice. Despite a name that hints at centuries of settlement, the village's main draw for visitors is a structure completed only at the start of the 21st century — and it is this building that pulls day-trippers in from across the Central Bohemian region.

Where does a "new castle" with old roots come from?

The site once held a much older fortified structure, a stronghold believed to date back to the 10th century. Over time it was rebuilt into a Renaissance residence, and in 1570 the nobleman Gotthard Florian converted the stronghold at Červený Újezd into a proper Renaissance chateau. Later, the building lost its residential role, was repurposed for agricultural use, and eventually fell into disrepair. The castle standing in Červený Újezd today, however, is not a restoration of that older building — it is an entirely new construction, built from the ground up between 2001 and 2002 at the initiative of investor Pavel Orna.

What is there to see at the castle now?

The castle was designed as a historicizing building styled after a knight's fortress and a traditional homestead, combining old craft techniques with modern functional needs. Its architecture mixes elements from several periods — Gothic windows and galleries, Renaissance painted ceilings and sgraffito decoration, alongside replicas of period originals. The result is a building that could pass for a genuine centuries-old monument at first glance, even though its actual age is surprisingly short.

Inside, the castle houses a private Museum of Czech Village Life, with around 4,000 exhibits illustrating everyday rural life from the 17th century onward. The collection of tools, household items and farming implements gives visitors a sense of how life in the Czech countryside evolved across generations.

What else is on site?

The castle garden functions as an open-air skansen, featuring replicas of a windmill, a hop-drying kiln, a bell tower and wine cellars, letting visitors see several typical elements of traditional rural outbuildings in one place. The grounds also include an entertainment area built around classic coin-operated arcade games, effectively a retro gaming hall. Those looking for food and drink can visit the on-site inn, which serves traditional old Czech dishes, rounding out the sense of stepping back in time that the site's creators aimed for.

Within the wider municipality, it's also worth noting a Franciscan monastery located in the eastern part of the village — a quieter, less publicized piece of local heritage.

How to get to Červený Újezd

The village is well connected to both Prague and Unhošť via the integrated public transport line PID 307, operated by ČSAD MHD Kladno, running at 30–60 minute intervals. The line links the village to Prague's Zličín district among other stops, making Červený Újezd an easy day-trip destination from either Prague or Kladno.

Frequently asked questions

Is the castle in Červený Újezd an actual historic monument? Not formally — the current building dates from 2001–2002 and is a new, historicizing construction, though an older fortified structure did stand on the same site and was rebuilt several times over the centuries.

What can visitors see on site? The Museum of Czech Village Life with thousands of exhibits, a garden skansen with a windmill, hop-drying kiln, bell tower and wine cellar replicas, a retro arcade games hall, and an inn serving traditional Czech food.

How do you get there without a car? By bus line PID 307, which runs between Unhošť and Prague's Zličín district at 30–60 minute intervals.

Is there anything else in the municipality besides the castle? Yes, a Franciscan monastery stands in the eastern part of the village.