New Castle in Kostelec nad Orlicí

The New Castle in Kostelec nad Orlicí ranks among the finest Empire-style residences in the Czech Republic, set within a sprawling English park. Built for the Kinský family in the early nineteenth century, the estate is admired today for the rare harmony between its architecture and surrounding landscape.

When was the castle built, and by whom?

Count Josef Kinský commissioned the residence in the Empire (Classicist-Biedermeier) style, with construction running from 1829 to 1833. The design came from Heinrich Koch, the architect who worked regularly for the Kinský family. In 1847, an eastern wing was added to close off the courtyard on the western side, based on plans by local builder Edmund Christen. The Kinský family lived at the castle continuously until 1948.

What makes the New Castle's architecture distinctive?

The building is considered one of the most valuable Empire-style structures of its kind in the country. Its main façade is marked by a central columned portico, and the whole complex was laid out along a sightline that opens toward the ruins of Potštejn Castle in the distance. Because the castle and its park were designed and built together, they form a unified composition that is considered unique in the Czech Republic.

What is the park around the castle like?

The English park was laid out at the same time as the castle, between 1829 and 1833, and today covers dozens of hectares. Paulina Kinská (1888-1953) shaped much of its character by planting drifts of snowflakes and snowdrops, which still turn sections of the grounds into a flowering carpet every spring. Count Bedřich Karel Kinský, an enthusiastic ornithologist, was instrumental in having the park declared a bird sanctuary on 31 March 1949. The park now regularly hosts concerts and a traditional food festival.

What happened to the castle after 1948?

After the state took over the property in 1949, the building became home to a research institute for pig breeding, a use entirely at odds with its original character. The estate was not returned to the Kinský family until 1992, and by then the castle was in a dilapidated condition. Following an extensive renovation, the building opened to the public for the first time in its history in 2011.

What can visitors see at the castle today?

The main exhibition, "Life in Biedermeier," walks visitors through the everyday world of the Czech nobility in the first half of the nineteenth century alongside the history of the Kinský family. The upper floor houses the Kinský Gallery, which hosts temporary exhibitions, while the castle's Mirror Hall is used for civil wedding ceremonies and classical music concerts, keeping the estate active as a cultural venue rather than a static museum piece.

Frequently asked questions

How old is the New Castle in Kostelec nad Orlicí? The castle was built between 1829 and 1833, making it nearly two centuries old. Its eastern wing was added later, in 1847.

Can visitors tour the castle? Yes. After a long renovation, it opened to the public for the first time in 2011, and visitors can now see its Biedermeier-era interiors and the Kinský Gallery.

Why was the park declared a bird sanctuary? Count Bedřich Karel Kinský, who had a strong interest in ornithology, pushed for the designation, and the park officially became a protected bird sanctuary on 31 March 1949.

What was the castle used for when it wasn't in the Kinský family's hands? After nationalization in 1949, the building served as the seat of a research institute for pig breeding. The property was only returned to the family in 1992, in poor structural condition.