Petrohrad Castle

Petrohrad Castle stands in the small settlement of the same name, part of a municipality that also includes the villages of Černčice and Bílenec, in the Louny district of the Ústí region. It is a Baroque manor with a history stretching back more than four centuries, most of it tied to a single noble family — the Černíns of Chudenice.

Who built the castle, and when?

The site wasn't built on from scratch. A medieval fortress had stood there earlier, but it fell into disrepair and was eventually abandoned. In 1560, Jaroslav Libštejnský of Kolowrat decided to erect a new manor house on the same spot, and that building marked the beginning of what would become today's castle.

How did the Černín family shape Petrohrad?

The turning point came in 1622, when the estate was bought by Heřman Černín of Chudenice. It was a turbulent era: early in the Thirty Years' War, the castle was burned down. Reconstruction did not begin right away — it took until 1651, when Heřman's nephew, Humprecht Jan Černín, inherited the estate and carried out post-war building work, restoring the residence to a usable state.

The most visible transformation came a generation later. Between 1682 and 1710, the estate was run by Humprecht Jan's son, Heřman Jakub Černín. Under his ownership the castle underwent a full Baroque reconstruction designed by the architect Giovanni Alliprandi, an Italian builder active among Czech nobility at the time. That project turned the older medieval-Renaissance house into the Baroque residence whose form has largely survived to this day.

The family kept building. In 1860, under Karel Evžen Černín, construction began on the west wing — a late-Baroque addition with an entrance leading into the castle's ceremonial courtyard. That wing still defines the layout of the complex today.

What happened to the castle in the 20th century?

The night of 8–9 January 1915 brought a serious setback: a fire broke out and destroyed the west and central wings. Repairs started immediately and were finished in 1918, right at the threshold of a new era in Czech history.

The Černín family continued to hold Petrohrad until 1945. After the Second World War the estate passed into state ownership and was designated a heritage site. Since 1964, the castle has been protected as a cultural monument.

Can visitors go inside Petrohrad Castle?

No, not at present. Since the second half of the 20th century the building has housed a psychiatric hospital, so its interiors are closed to the public. For anyone exploring the Louny district or the wider Dolní Poohří area, Petrohrad Castle is best treated as a landmark to view from the outside and a stop along a countryside route, rather than a site with regular visitor access.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Petrohrad Castle located? In the municipality of Petrohrad, which also includes the villages of Černčice and Bílenec, in the Louny district of the Ústí region in northern Czech Republic.

When was the castle built? The first manor house on the site of an earlier, abandoned fortress was built in 1560 by Jaroslav Libštejnský of Kolowrat.

Which family owned the castle the longest? The Černín family of Chudenice, from their purchase of the estate in 1622 until 1945 — nearly 320 years.

Who redesigned the castle in the Baroque style? The Baroque reconstruction, carried out between 1682 and 1710, was designed by the Italian architect Giovanni Alliprandi for Heřman Jakub Černín.

Is Petrohrad Castle open to tourists? No. Since the second half of the 20th century the building has been used as a psychiatric hospital, so the interior cannot be visited.

Is the castle a protected heritage site? Yes, it has been listed as a cultural monument since 1964.