Dolní Beřkovice Castle

Dolní Beřkovice Castle is a former Lobkowicz residence standing in the eastern part of the village of Dolní Beřkovice in the Mělník district, on the left bank of the Elbe (Labe) river, right next to the neighboring village of Vliněves. The single-storey, four-wing building, Renaissance in origin and neo-Renaissance in its present appearance, is surrounded by a five-hectare English park and has been listed as a Czech cultural monument since 1966.

How did a manor at Dolní Beřkovice come about?

The first written mention of a manor house at Beřkovice dates back to the second half of the 15th century, when a fortified residence was built here by Radslav II Beřkovský of Šebířov. The Beřkovský family held the estate until 1597, when Mikuláš Beřkovský sold it to Zikmund Vilém of Blevice and Nosovice, a knight of Meissen origin.

When did the fortified manor become a Renaissance château?

The old fortified house no longer suited its new owner's needs, so in 1606 Zikmund Vilém replaced it with a Renaissance château. The Blevice family did not enjoy their new seat for long, however: after Zikmund's death in 1621, the estate was confiscated because of the family's part in the Bohemian Estates' Revolt against the Habsburgs.

When did the Lobkowicz family take over?

In 1627 Polyxena of Lobkowicz bought Beřkovice together with its château. The main seat of the Lobkowicz family at the time remained Roudnice nad Labem, but Ferdinand Joseph of Lobkowicz passed the Dolní Beřkovice château on to his younger brother Joseph. It was Joseph who founded a new, independent branch of the family - the Dolní Beřkovice Lobkowiczes - and turned the château into that branch's residential seat.

What changed with the 1853 reconstruction?

In 1853 the château underwent a major reconstruction led by architects Stach and Ferstel. This is when the building acquired the neo-Gothic and neo-Renaissance details fashionable at the time, which still largely define its present look.

What happened to the château in the 20th and 21st centuries?

The Lobkowicz family kept Dolní Beřkovice without interruption until 1948, when the estate was taken over by the state. The family regained ownership through restitution proceedings in the 1990s. A serious setback came with the 2002 floods, which caused significant damage to the château; its reconstruction has been ongoing ever since, carried out gradually and in stages.

What is the park surrounding the château like?

The château is set within a five-hectare English park planted with more than sixty tree species, likely designed by Václav Skalník, a landscape architect also known for spa parks in Czech spa towns. The park is freely open to visitors all year round and offers a quiet place to walk regardless of whether the château building itself happens to be open.

Can the château be visited today?

The château is not permanently open to the public, as its reconstruction is still ongoing. Even so, cultural and social events - including concerts and occasional open days - take place in and around the building from time to time. Anyone planning a visit should check the current schedule of such events in advance, since access to the interior remains limited and irregular.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Dolní Beřkovice Castle located? In the eastern part of the village of Dolní Beřkovice, Mělník district, on the left bank of the Elbe (Labe), directly next to the village of Vliněves.

Who built the first Renaissance château at Beřkovice? Zikmund Vilém of Blevice and Nosovice built it in 1606, on the site of an older fortified manor that had belonged to the Beřkovský family of Šebířov.

Since when has the château been linked to the Lobkowicz family? Since 1627, when the estate was bought by Polyxena of Lobkowicz. It was Joseph of Lobkowicz, brother of Ferdinand Joseph, who founded a separate branch of the family here - the Dolní Beřkovice Lobkowiczes.

Is the château open to visitors? Not on a permanent basis - it is still being reconstructed after damage from the 2002 floods - but it occasionally hosts cultural events, and the surrounding park is freely accessible all year round.

What is worth seeing around the château? A five-hectare English park with more than sixty tree species, likely designed by landscape architect Václav Skalník.