Líčkov Castle

Líčkov Castle is a Baroque and Rococo residence in the municipality of Liběšice, Louny District, in the Ústí nad Labem Region of the Czech Republic, a few kilometres southeast of Žatec.

How old is the site, and what stood here first?

The earliest record of a fortified seat here goes back to the 14th century, when a small manor house, a so-called tvrz, stood on the spot. A round tower from that period has partly survived, now absorbed into the later castle structure. After 1453, the tvrz was rebuilt into a defensive stronghold by Václav Vlček, a warrior well known in his day. By the 16th century, under Bohuslav Hasištejnský of Lobkovice, the estate had become the administrative centre of the Žatec region.

When did the fortress become a castle?

The turning point came in the early 17th century, when Bohuslav Hrobčický converted the old tvrz into a Baroque residence. A further, more thorough rebuilding followed after 1765, when the estate was bought by Josef Vonibald of Eden, who gave the building the late Baroque and Rococo appearance largely recognisable today. Besides the main house, the complex includes outbuildings, a gate, walls, staircases, water features and a castle garden — the whole site is protected as a cultural monument.

What is the castle's connection to painter Oskar Brázda?

In 1925, the Baroque castle near Žatec was bought by academic painter Oskar Brázda (1887–1977), who moved in with his wife, Amelie Posse, and worked there intensively. The Nazis expelled him from Líčkov in 1938, and the estate was confiscated by the communist state in 1948. It was only in 1992, through restitution, that the painter's widow, Marie Brázdová, regained the castle and opened it to the public. Ownership was disputed for years afterward, and it was only in December 2024 that the Supreme Court issued a final ruling confirming Marie Brázdová as the rightful owner of Líčkov.

What can visitors see today?

Visitors can tour the castle interiors, including a gallery of Oskar Brázda's paintings, walk through the castle garden and explore the former farm buildings around the grounds. A notable feature is the surviving round tower, a remnant of the medieval tvrz, still visible within the structure of today's residence, which stands on a rise above the village of Líčkov.

Where exactly is Líčkov, and how do you get there?

Líčkov is part of the municipality of Liběšice, in the Louny District, roughly 8-10 kilometres southeast of Žatec. It's a small village set in the farming landscape of northwestern Bohemia, easily reached by road from both Žatec and Louny, either of which makes a convenient base for exploring the area.

Frequently asked questions

How old is Líčkov Castle? Its roots go back to a 14th-century tvrz, though the Baroque and Rococo appearance it has today comes from rebuildings in the early 17th century and after 1765.

Who was Oskar Brázda? An academic painter who bought the castle in 1925 and lived there with his wife until the Nazis expelled him in 1938.

Can the castle be visited today? Yes — since 1992, when Marie Brázdová regained it through restitution, the castle has been open to visitors, who can see a gallery of Oskar Brázda's work among other things.

What remains of the original medieval building? A partly preserved round tower from the old tvrz, still embedded in the architecture of today's castle.