Otín Castle

Otín Castle stands in the village of the same name, roughly 7 km northeast of Klatovy, in the Plzeň Region of the Šumava area. Behind its Empire-style facade lies a long architectural history - from a Gothic fortress through a Renaissance manor to a Baroque and then Empire rebuild - and one very specific literary episode: this is where František Palacký began writing his history of the Czech nation.

When was Otín first mentioned?

The village of Otín first appears in written records in 1379. The earliest known noble residence on the site was a Gothic fortress called Šabat, most likely built in the second half of the fifteenth century and named after one of its early owners.

Who owned Otín in the sixteenth century?

The estate changed hands several times. In 1550 it belonged to the Boříkovský family of Košumberk, who sold it to Šebestián Raichenbacher of Reichenbach. His sons, Kryštof and Jindřich, sold Otín on in 1556 to Václav Broum of Miřetice. The next owner was Fabián Mejtolár of Mejtol, who held the estate for only two years before passing it to Matyáš Kaufunk of Poborovice, at the time the mayor of Klatovy. It was during the second half of the sixteenth century that one of these owners had a new Renaissance fortress built on the site of the older stronghold.

How did the castle get its current appearance?

In the seventeenth century, the Kaničtí of Čachrov family rebuilt the Renaissance structure into an early Baroque castle. Its present Empire-style look dates only from the early nineteenth century, when a further rebuilding added the wing that still defines the building's appearance today.

Why is Otín linked to František Palacký?

Between 1809 and 1873 the estate belonged to the Měchura family, a prominent Prague family who used Otín as their summer residence. On 16 September 1827, the family's daughter, Tereza Měchurová, married František Palacký, then a young historian who would later be known as the "father of the nation." Palacký spent several summer holidays at Otín, and it was here, in an ornamental garden pavilion on the grounds, that he began writing his major work, the "History of the Czech Nation."

What is the state of the castle today?

The castle complex has been protected as a cultural monument since 1964. In October 2018 it was bought by entrepreneur Daria Krstev, who has continued its reconstruction. Plans for the site include an exhibition dedicated to František Palacký, a library, and an educational language centre, partly housed in Palacký's former study. In summer 2024 the castle complex was again put up for sale.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Otín Castle located? In the village of Otín, about 7 km northeast of Klatovy, in the Plzeň Region.

Can visitors currently tour Otín Castle? No - the building is under reconstruction and is not currently open to the public.

Why is Otín Castle historically significant? Because it is where František Palacký, the future "father of the Czech nation," began writing his "History of the Czech Nation" during summer stays with his wife's family.

Since when has the building been a protected monument? Otín Castle has been listed as a protected cultural monument since 1964.

What architectural styles does the castle combine? Its history runs from a Gothic fortress, through a sixteenth-century Renaissance residence and a seventeenth-century early Baroque rebuild, to the Empire-style wing added in the early nineteenth century.