Mirošov Castle

Mirošov Castle sits at the edge of the small town of Mirošov in the Rokycany district, tucked into a quiet corner of western Bohemia. It is a modest but historically layered residence that grew from a Renaissance manor house into a Baroque chateau — and after decades behind closed doors, it now welcomes visitors again.

Where did the castle come from?

The story begins in the 16th century, when the Gryspek family took over the small local estate. Ferdinand Gryspek commissioned a fortified Renaissance residence with a courtyard and a brewery, and the work was finished sometime before 1594. That first building was a typical noble seat of its era, combining living quarters with the practical business of running an estate.

A very different chapter opened in the 18th century. Between 1719 and 1723, the Vratislav family of Mitrovice rebuilt the once-modest residence into a Baroque chateau. The design came from Jakub Auguston, an architect based in Plzeň, and the project was driven by Jan Antonín Vratislav of Mitrovice, who had been granted the title of count in 1701. The ambitious rebuilding, however, came at a steep price: the count ran up such heavy debts that forced administration was imposed on his estate already in 1723 — almost the same year the construction wrapped up.

What happened to it afterward?

After the Vratislav family's financial collapse, the estate passed to the imperial court chamber and then changed hands repeatedly, a common fate for smaller noble residences in the region. A new chapter opened in 1939, when the lawyer Ladislav Karel Feierabend bought the property. Following the post-1990 restitutions, the chateau returned to his family — his daughter, Hana Ludikarová, became the heir. After overseeing renovation work, she opened the main wing of the chateau to the public.

The building has been protected as a cultural monument since 1964, and after restoration it reopened its doors to visitors in 2005.

What is there to see?

A visit to Mirošov centers on the Baroque interiors of the main wing, which still carry the feel of a lived-in family residence rather than a staged museum display. The chateau is not set up for mass tourism — it caters instead to smaller, pre-arranged groups, which gives a visit here a more personal character than a trip to one of the country's larger, better-known castles.

The property also hosts civil wedding ceremonies and other private and social events, a common way for owners of this kind of residence in the Czech Republic to help fund the building's upkeep and conservation.

How to get there and when to visit?

Mirošov lies in the Rokycany district, close to the route connecting Plzeň and Rokycany, which makes it an easy stop by car from either town. Because tours run only for organized groups by prior arrangement, it is worth planning ahead and contacting the chateau administration directly rather than expecting to just show up and walk in.

Frequently asked questions

Can you visit Mirošov Castle on your own, without a group? No — tours are organized for groups, usually with a minimum of around 10 people, and the date needs to be arranged in advance with the chateau's administration.

Who built Mirošov Castle? The first, Renaissance-style residence was built by Ferdinand Gryspek before 1594. The chateau's current Baroque appearance dates from a rebuilding commissioned by Jan Antonín Vratislav of Mitrovice between 1719 and 1723, designed by the architect Jakub Auguston.

Can you hold a wedding at the chateau? Yes, the chateau offers its interiors and grounds for civil wedding ceremonies as well as other private and social events.

Since when has the chateau been open to tourists? After the property returned to the owning family and underwent renovation, the main wing was opened to visitors in 2005. It has been listed and protected as a cultural monument since 1964.