Markvartice Castle

Markvartice Castle is a Renaissance manor house in the village of Markvartice, in the Děčín District of the Ústí nad Labem Region in the Czech Republic, locally known as Červený dvůr.

When was the castle built?

The building dates to around 1568, when brothers Ludvík and Hanuš Schönfeld had one of the village's existing fortified houses rebuilt in Renaissance style. Historians believe the new residence may have incorporated the foundations of an older stronghold, which would explain the irregular layout of the walls still visible today. High gabled roofs and Renaissance window frames from this period have survived later alterations, allowing the core of the building to be reliably dated to the second half of the sixteenth century.

Who owned the castle over the centuries?

The property's history mirrors the turbulent fortunes of Bohemian nobility. After the Schönfelds, ownership passed to Litold Kelbl of Geisingen (1576–1580), then to Volf of Salhausen and his son of the same name. From 1618 the estate belonged to Jan Bedřich of Oppersdorf, but it was confiscated following his involvement in the Estates' Uprising. In 1623 the confiscated property was bought by Otto Henry of Vartenberg, a landowner remembered locally for his cruelty toward his subjects — a reputation that ended with his murder, along with his wife, in 1625. The castle then passed to Zikmund of Volkenstein, who had it entered into the land registry in 1629 before selling it two years later to Count Jan Zikmund of Thun. The Thun family incorporated Markvartice into their Benešov estate in 1705, after which the building served purely administrative purposes rather than as a noble residence.

What happened to the castle after 1945?

Following the Second World War, the building was taken over by a local agricultural cooperative. The surrounding farm buildings gradually disappeared, and the castle itself fell into progressive disrepair as it was used for purposes unrelated to its historic function and received little maintenance. This period of neglect left lasting damage to the historic fabric, which current restoration efforts are now trying to address.

Can visitors currently tour the castle?

No — the building has been closed to visitors since April 2019 and cannot be entered. It is registered as a cultural monument of the Czech Republic, but its poor structural condition and an ongoing rescue process mean it is not currently open to the public. The municipality of Markvartice has spent several years working to save the more than 450-year-old building and is exploring options for its future use. Anyone interested in the progress of restoration work or possible future access should contact the National Heritage Institute (Národní památkový ústav), which oversees the monument.

Why does this history matter if the site is closed?

Markvartice Castle illustrates the story of a modest Renaissance noble residence that, despite being inaccessible to tourists today, remains an important part of the local cultural landscape. Its trajectory — from a Renaissance rebuilding, through the violent events of the seventeenth century, to postwar decline and present-day rescue efforts — is typical of many smaller Bohemian manor houses that have survived for centuries while changing hands and functions repeatedly. Following the fate of such buildings helps in understanding the broader history of the Děčín District and the Ústí nad Labem Region.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Markvartice Castle located? In the village of Markvartice, in the Děčín District of the Ústí nad Labem Region in northern Czech Republic.

Is Markvartice Castle open to visitors? No, the building has been closed to the public since April 2019 due to its poor technical condition.

Where does the local name Červený dvůr come from? The name is used locally alongside the castle's official designation, though sources do not give a precise account of its origin in connection with the building.

When was the castle built and who commissioned it? It was built around 1568 on the initiative of brothers Ludvík and Hanuš Schönfeld, who rebuilt an earlier fortified house in Renaissance style.