Stvolínky Castle

Stvolínky Castle stands in the southwestern part of the village of Stvolínky, roughly 10 km from Česká Lípa, in an area where the Českolipsko, Kokořínsko and České Středohoří regions meet. It is an early Baroque residence built on the site of a medieval fortified manor, best known as the former summer residence of the bishops of Litoměřice. Long left to decay, the building is now undergoing gradual restoration and occasionally opens its doors for cultural events.

What stood here before the castle?

A Gothic fortified manor with a moat once occupied the site, first documented in 1505 under Vilém of Ilburk. The village and its stronghold suffered in 1444, when they were burned down by Lusatian forces during the armed conflicts of the period. After 1575, under the Kurzbach family, the building was enlarged in Renaissance style, giving it a more residential and less defensive character.

How did the estate pass to the bishops of Litoměřice?

The turning point came in 1647, when the indebted estate was purchased by Cardinal Arnošt Vojtěch of Harrach for the newly founded Litoměřice bishopric. Between 1655 and 1663, Bishop Maxmilián Rudolf Schleinitz commissioned a thorough rebuilding of the residence in early Baroque style. This work produced the four-wing layout with internal arcades seen today, incorporating parts of the original Gothic walls and the earlier Renaissance additions, the whole surrounded by a moat. A Baroque garden with a fountain was laid out alongside the residence, fitting for a bishop's summer seat. Stvolínky served this role until 1950.

What survives inside the castle?

The interiors preserve valuable Baroque decoration, including rare stucco work and fragments of Baroque frescoes and ceiling paintings. These remnants reflect the building's former status as the residence of church dignitaries rather than an ordinary noble manor house.

What happened to the castle after 1950?

Once its role as an episcopal residence ended, the building was taken over by the Zahrádky state farm, which used it for housing and storage through the 1950s and 1960s. From the 1970s it housed a branch of the Česká Lípa archive. These successive uses, far removed from its original purpose, contributed to the building's gradual deterioration.

Can visitors tour Stvolínky Castle today?

The castle is not permanently open to the public — its restoration is still ongoing. Thanks to the initiative of the local municipality and the Zámek Stvolínky civic association, it does occasionally open for cultural events and on selected days during the summer holiday season. The castle stands next to the Church of All Saints and is protected as a cultural heritage monument.

Frequently asked questions

When did the castle take on its current appearance? Its early Baroque form dates from 1655–1663, when Bishop Maxmilián Rudolf Schleinitz rebuilt an earlier Gothic-turned-Renaissance structure.

Who owned the castle? From 1647 it belonged to the Litoměřice bishopric, founded there by Cardinal Arnošt Vojtěch of Harrach; earlier owners included Vilém of Ilburk and the Kurzbach family.

What was the castle used for by the bishops? It served as their summer residence until 1950, complete with a Baroque garden and fountain.

Is the castle open to visitors? Not on a permanent basis — it remains under restoration, but it opens occasionally for cultural events and on selected summer days thanks to the municipality and a local civic association.

What can be seen inside the castle? Rare Baroque stucco work along with surviving fragments of frescoes and ceiling paintings.