Radovesnice Castle

Radovesnice Castle stands on a small rise above the village of Radovesnice I, at the edge of a park within a large former manor farmyard, in the Central Bohemian Region a few kilometers from Kolín. This Baroque residence has passed through several owners and functions over the centuries and today operates as a luxury hotel following an extensive restoration.

Who built the earliest stronghold here?

The village of Radovesnice is first recorded in 1266, when it belonged to the seat of the yeoman Vícemil of Radovesice. In the early 16th century the estate passed to the Materna family of Květnice, who built a fortified manor house, a tvrz, documented in written sources from 1608. Parts of the perimeter walls and vaulted ceilings on the ground floor of today's castle date back to this original structure.

How did the fortress become a Baroque castle?

The Thirty Years' War left the estate plundered and largely abandoned. In 1651 it was bought by Václav Jiří Holický of Šternberk, who began converting the old stronghold into a Baroque residence and laid out a park around it. This transformation gave the site much of the character it still carries today.

What damage did the Battle of Kolín cause?

In 1757, during the Battle of Kolín fought in the Seven Years' War, the castle suffered significant damage. Its owner at the time, Maria Maximiliana Schaffgotsch, decided to sell the estate as a result. On November 1, 1759, Count Filip Krakovský of Kolovraty purchased the property for 91,000 gold coins. He had the building thoroughly repaired and structurally unified — it is this phase of work that gave the castle its current Baroque appearance.

What happened to the castle in the 19th and 20th centuries?

In 1890 Radovesnice was acquired by Arnold, Berta, Jiří and Vilemína Turnau. Following the Second World War, in 1950, the estate passed into state ownership. The castle was then adapted for housing, offices, and a public library. Between 1973 and 1976 its façades and roof were repaired, though the building's original representative character remained secondary to these practical uses for decades.

How was the castle restored?

A turning point came in the 21st century. Starting in 2007, a comprehensive reconstruction was carried out at a cost exceeding 100 million Czech crowns. The works covered not only the building itself but also the restoration of the surrounding park to its historic layout. Once completed, the castle was relaunched as a luxury hotel, combining its historic architecture with a modern level of guest service.

Where exactly is the castle located?

The castle stands within the village of Radovesnice I, in the Kolín District of the Central Bohemian Region, surrounded by the grounds of a former manor farm and its park. Radovesnice I is one of two neighboring villages sharing the same root name — the other, Radovesnice II, lies close by.

Frequently asked questions

When was the original stronghold at Radovesnice built? The Materna family of Květnice built a fortified manor house, a tvrz, in the early 16th century; it is documented in records from 1608. Parts of its walls and vaults survive in the ground floor of today's castle.

Who turned the tvrz into a Baroque castle? Václav Jiří Holický of Šternberk, who bought the estate in 1651 after it had been devastated during the Thirty Years' War and began rebuilding it as a Baroque residence with a new park.

Why did the castle change hands in 1759? After damage sustained during the 1757 Battle of Kolín, owner Maria Maximiliana Schaffgotsch sold the estate to Count Filip Krakovský of Kolovraty, who repaired it and gave it its present appearance.

What was the castle used for under communist rule? After the state took it over in 1950, the castle housed flats, offices and a library; only its façades and roof were renovated, in the 1970s.

What is Radovesnice Castle today? Following a reconstruction that began in 2007 and cost more than 100 million Czech crowns, the castle now operates as a luxury hotel with a restored historic park.