Rychnov Castle

Rychnov Castle (Zámek Rychnov nad Kněžnou) is a Baroque residence of the Kolowrat family located in the town of Rychnov nad Kněžnou in eastern Czechia's Hradec Králové Region.

Where is the castle and what does it look like?

The building stands in the heart of Rychnov nad Kněžnou, close to the Polish border and in the scenic foothills of the Orlické Mountains, at coordinates 50.166°N, 16.275°E. It takes the form of a four-wing complex arranged around an arcaded inner courtyard — a layout typical of Baroque noble residences, combining a representative facade with the practical needs of an estate household.

What is the history behind the castle?

The earliest written record of a fortified building on this spot dates back to 1340, when a Gothic castle stood here alongside a lower manor. Everything changed in 1640, when Albrecht IV Kolowrat-Liebsteinský purchased the estate, beginning a centuries-long relationship between the Kolowrat family and Rychnov. Under František Karel I Kolowrat, an early Baroque, two-story castle with four wings and an arcaded courtyard was built between 1676 and 1690.

A second major building phase followed between 1713 and 1727, when the Kolowrats commissioned the celebrated Baroque architect Jan Blažej Santini-Aichel to redesign and expand the residence. This is when the castle received new facades, a distinctive mansard roof with dormer windows, and side wings topped with prismatic turrets — details that still define its elegant silhouette today.

Over the following centuries the family assembled an extensive collection of paintings and a library holding rare manuscripts and early printed books, turning the castle into a genuine cultural hub for the region. In 1948 the estate was nationalized and the family lost ownership for decades. That changed in 1990, when the castle was returned to the Kolowrats, and after years of restoration work it reopened its doors to visitors in 2008.

What should visitors look out for?

The arcaded courtyard sits at the heart of the complex, with the four wings arranged around it — the best vantage point to appreciate the balance of the Baroque design. Look closely at the architectural details added during Santini's renovation: the mansard roof, dormer windows, and the turrets flanking the side wings. The interiors still reflect generations of the family's presence, from the painting collection to the library holdings, evidence of the cultural role the Kolowrats played in the region for centuries.

Rychnov nad Kněžnou itself lies off the main tourist routes, which means a visit to the castle comes without the crowds typical of more famous Czech residences, while still offering an authentic look at the history of a family that continues to care for its ancestral home.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the castle located? In the town of Rychnov nad Kněžnou, in the Hradec Králové Region of eastern Czechia, near the Polish border and the foothills of the Orlické Mountains.

Who built the current castle? The Baroque structure was built between 1676 and 1690 by František Karel I Kolowrat, then enlarged and given its final form between 1713 and 1727 by architect Jan Blažej Santini-Aichel.

Does the castle still belong to the Kolowrat family? Yes. After nationalization in 1948, the estate was returned to the family in 1990, and it has been open to visitors again since 2008.

What stood here before the Baroque castle? A Gothic castle with a lower manor house, first recorded in 1340, long before the Kolowrats acquired the estate.