Šťáhlavy Castle

Šťáhlavy Castle is a Renaissance-and-Baroque residence standing on the village square of Šťáhlavy in the Pilsen Region of western Bohemia. It grew out of a 16th-century fortified tower that later owners gradually expanded, and its history is tied to the Czernin and Waldstein (Valdštejn) families.

Who built the original tower?

The castle's origins go back to the mid-16th century and the Kokořovec family of Kokořov. It was Karel Kokořovec, son of Jiřík Kokořovec, who raised a fortified tower (a so-called tvrz) on the village square, a structure later rebuilt and enlarged into a Renaissance castle.

What does the building look like?

The castle has a roughly U-shaped layout made up of the oldest, Renaissance section and the wings connecting it, including a later Baroque wing. The facade of the Renaissance wing is decorated with sgraffito, a scratched-plaster ornamentation typical of the period.

What changed after the Czernin family took over?

In 1710, the extensive estate together with the castle was bought by the Czernin family. Under their ownership, a new south wing was added in 1782 in the Baroque style. A little over a decade later, in the mid-1790s, the reigning Count Czernin enlarged the residence with two further pairs of buildings, designed by the noted Czech architect Ignác Jan Nepomuk Palliardi.

What was the Waldstein family's connection to the castle?

In 1945, under the Beneš decrees, the castle was confiscated together with the rest of the property belonging to the Munich branch of the Waldstein (Valdštejn) family — it was this branch of the family that owned the estate at the time.

What is happening at the castle today?

In 2016, a foundation dedicated to protecting historic monuments in the Pilsen Region was established. It succeeded in purchasing the castle, and the institution is now working toward its restoration.

Where is Šťáhlavy located?

The village of Šťáhlavy lies in the Pilsen Region (Plzeňský kraj) in western Bohemia, a short distance from the city of Pilsen.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who built Šťáhlavy Castle? Karel Kokořovec of the Kokořovec family of Kokořov raised a fortified tower on the village square in the mid-16th century, which was later expanded into a Renaissance castle.

What architectural style is the castle? The building combines a Renaissance core, recognizable by its sgraffito-decorated facade, with later Baroque additions built under the Czernin family in the 18th century, including work designed by architect Ignác Jan Nepomuk Palliardi.

Who owned the castle before 1945? In 1945 the castle belonged to the Munich branch of the Waldstein (Valdštejn) family and was confiscated, along with the rest of the family's property, under the Beneš decrees.

What is happening with the castle now? Since 2016 the castle has been in the hands of a foundation dedicated to protecting historic monuments in the Pilsen Region, which purchased it and is working on its restoration.