Křemýž Castle

Křemýž Castle is a baroque residence in the village of Křemýž, part of the Ohníč municipality in the Teplice district, in the Ústí nad Labem region of northern Bohemia, at the foot of the Ore Mountains (Krušné hory). The building has been listed as a Czech cultural monument since 1958, though today it stands closed and off-limits to visitors.

What stood on the site before the castle?

The first noble seat at Křemýž was a fortified manor house, or tvrz, first recorded in 1545. It stood on a hill called Ladenburk, north of today's village — a different spot from where the current castle stands.

Who built the baroque castle?

In 1669, Baroness Kateřina Alžběta z Bachonhay purchased the Křemýž estate. On her orders, a new baroque castle was raised at the foot of Ladenburk hill between 1693 and 1695, and the older tvrz on the hilltop was torn down. That building forms the outline of the castle still standing today.

How did ownership of the estate change over time?

After the baroness's family, the estate passed to the Věžník family and later to the Ledebour line (Ledebour-Wicheln), who held it until 1945. It was during the Ledebours' long tenure that the castle underwent its most significant alterations.

What changes came in the 19th century?

In the early 19th century, Count Klement August Ledebour-Wicheln added a second floor to the castle and gave the facade a classicist risalit. Later in the century, under Adolf Beno Ledebour, the southwestern facade was reworked with Gothic-style details. As a result, the building today combines several stylistic layers from different periods.

What else belonged to the castle complex?

The estate also included a winter garden and a baroque riding hall, a covered arena for horse riding. Both point to the scale and wealth the residence once commanded.

What happened to the castle after the Second World War?

After 1945, once the Ledebour family had left Křemýž, the building was converted into a medical facility treating patients with lung disease. It operated in that role until the end of the 1950s. The castle was renovated in 1993, but the sanatorium that continued to use it ultimately closed for good in 1996.

Can the castle be visited today?

No. Křemýž Castle is currently in private hands, stands empty, and is steadily deteriorating. The building is not open to the public, and there is no visitor access to the grounds.

Where is Křemýž located?

The village of Křemýž is part of the Ohníč municipality in the Teplice district, in the Ústí nad Labem region of northern Bohemia, set in the foothill landscape below the Ore Mountains.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Křemýž Castle located? In the village of Křemýž, part of the Ohníč municipality in the Teplice district, in the Ústí nad Labem region of northern Bohemia, at the foot of the Ore Mountains.

When was the castle built? The current baroque building was constructed between 1693 and 1695 on the orders of Baroness Kateřina Alžběta z Bachonhay, replacing an older 16th-century fortified manor.

Who owned the castle? After the baroness, the estate passed to the Věžník family and then to the Ledebour-Wicheln line, which held it until 1945.

Can Křemýž Castle be visited? No, the building is privately owned, closed to the public, and in a steadily worsening state of disrepair.

What happened to the castle after the war? Until the late 1950s it housed a medical facility for lung disease patients; after a 1993 renovation, the sanatorium finally closed in 1996.