Chotěboř Castle

Chotěboř Castle (Zámek Chotěboř) is a baroque manor house standing at the edge of the town of Chotěboř in the Vysočina Region, in the eastern part of the Czech Republic. Rather than a fortress on a hill, it is an elegant four-wing residence built around a closed courtyard, set within a large English-style park.

What is the history behind the castle?

The site was originally occupied by a medieval fortress, built shortly after 1361 outside the town's fortifications. From 1499 it belonged to the Trčka of Lípa family, who held Chotěboř until 1634, when the estate was confiscated in favor of Emperor Ferdinand II and subsequently granted to Jaroslav Sezima Rašín of Rýzmburk.

The old fortress, modest by the standards of the time, no longer suited its owners by the end of the 17th century. It was Vilém Leopold Kinský who decided to tear down the decaying structure and build a grander residence in its place between 1701 and 1702 — the château that stands today. The new early-baroque building took the form of a four-wing, single-storey structure around an enclosed courtyard, modeled on Italian-style palace architecture.

Who owned the estate afterward?

In 1837 the property passed to the Dobřenský family of Dobřenice, and from that point on it was consistently inherited within this single family line. Under their ownership, part of the first floor was rebuilt in Neo-Renaissance style between 1865 and 1870, giving the interiors a new 19th-century character. A few years later, between 1870 and 1875, an extensive English-style landscape park was laid out around the residence, planted with rare tree species.

The Dobřenský family lived at the castle continuously until 1948, when the estate was confiscated by the postwar communist authorities. Following the political changes after 1989, the château was returned to the Dobřenský family of Dobřenice in 1992 as part of the restitution of confiscated property, and it remains in the family's hands today.

Can visitors tour the castle?

The château itself functions as a private family residence and its interior is not open to the public. The park surrounding it, however, is accessible to visitors — covering roughly 15 hectares, it is one of the estate's most rewarding features. An avenue of chestnut and lime trees runs through the grounds, alongside a historic farmstead building and an aviary housing peacocks. Walking through the park, rather than touring the château's rooms, is the realistic way for a visitor to experience the site.

What should travelers know before visiting?

Chotěboř lies in the Vysočina Region, an area known for its rolling countryside and a number of secular and religious landmarks. Although its interior remains closed, the château is a recognizable landmark of the town and illustrates a pattern common to many Czech noble estates: a medieval fortress rebuilt first as a baroque manor and later reshaped in the Neo-Renaissance style.

Frequently asked questions

Is Chotěboř Castle open to visitors? The interior is closed to the public, as it is the private residence of the Dobřenský family. The surrounding park, however, is open.

Who owns the castle today? Since 1992, following the restitution of property confiscated in 1948, the estate has belonged to the Dobřenský family of Dobřenice.

In what architectural style was the castle built? The château was built in 1701–1702 in the early baroque style, with part of the first floor remodeled in Neo-Renaissance style between 1865 and 1870.

What can be seen in the park around the castle? An English-style landscape park of about 15 hectares, featuring an avenue of chestnut and lime trees, a historic farmstead, and an aviary with peacocks.