Duchcov Chateau

Duchcov Chateau is a Baroque-turned-Neoclassical residence standing in the centre of the small town of Duchcov, in the Ústí nad Labem Region of the Czech Republic, close to the foothills of the Ore Mountains. It is listed as a national cultural monument, and its reputation reaches well beyond the region — this is where Giacomo Casanova spent his final years, working as librarian to the Waldstein family.

Where exactly is the chateau located?

The building sits on náměstí Republiky, the main square of Duchcov, in a district long shaped by brown-coal mining. Its coordinates are roughly 50.602°N, 13.744°E. Despite the industrial history of the surrounding area, the town centre around the chateau has kept a quiet, historic feel.

Where did this residence come from?

The present chateau replaced a 16th-century Renaissance house that had belonged to the Lobkowicz family. For close to three centuries the Duchcov estate then passed through the hands of the Waldstein family, who gradually turned the older property into a grand residence. The Baroque rebuilding was commissioned by Johann Friedrich of Waldstein, who brought in the French architect Jean-Baptiste Mathey — the same architect behind Prague's Troja Palace — who worked on the project from 1675. From 1714 onward, František Maxmilián Kaňka took over, adding a distinctive Baroque garden decorated with sculptures by Matthias Bernard Braun. The facade received its current Neoclassical look between 1812 and 1818, when much of the old Baroque garden was also reshaped into an English-style landscape park.

What was Giacomo Casanova's connection to the chateau?

The Venetian adventurer and writer Giacomo Casanova arrived in Duchcov in 1785, after years in exile from Venice. He came at the invitation of his friend Count Josef Karel of Waldstein, who offered him the post of librarian for the chateau's collection, which by then held more than 40,000 volumes. Casanova stayed in Duchcov until his death in 1798 — thirteen years in total — cataloguing the library and, during that same period, writing his celebrated memoirs, known as "Histoire de ma vie" ("Story of My Life"). That episode alone turned a modest Bohemian chateau into a name recognised across Europe.

What can visitors see inside today?

The tour route runs through the Wallenstein Hall, decorated with frescoes by Václav Vavřinec Reiner, and the family's portrait gallery, which includes a portrait of Albrecht von Wallenstein, Duke of Friedland, painted by Anthony van Dyck. Visitors also pass through the Billiard Room and the former servants' quarters, along with an exhibition dedicated to Casanova's time at the chateau. The so-called Giacomo Gallery hosts rotating temporary exhibitions, so the programme changes throughout the year.

Does the Waldstein family still own the chateau?

No — the building now operates as a museum open to the public, though its interiors still reflect nearly three centuries of the family's presence, through both the portrait collection and the decoration of the reception rooms.

Frequently asked questions

Is Duchcov Chateau a protected monument? Yes, it is listed as a national cultural monument of the Czech Republic.

Who built the chateau? Its present form is the work of the Waldstein family, with the building shaped by architects Jean-Baptiste Mathey (from 1675) and František Maxmilián Kaňka (from 1714).

How long did Casanova live in Duchcov? Thirteen years, from 1785 until his death in 1798.

What did Casanova actually do there? He worked as librarian, organising a collection of more than 40,000 volumes, and it was during this time that he wrote his memoirs.

When did the facade get its current appearance? Between 1812 and 1818, when the building was remodelled in the Neoclassical style and part of the garden was turned into a landscape park.

What can be seen inside the chateau today? The Wallenstein Hall with its frescoes, the family portrait gallery, the Billiard Room, the former servants' quarters, and an exhibition on Casanova.