Úlice Castle

Úlice Castle is a Baroque manor house in the small village of Úlice, in the Plzeň-North district, roughly 18 kilometers west of Plzeň and nearly 100 kilometers from Prague. It's a stop for travelers who enjoy the quieter, less touristy corners of Czechia and like uncovering history tucked away in a rural landscape — this isn't a crowd-drawing landmark, but a rewarding detour on a trip through the Plzeň region.

What will you see there?

The current building was constructed between 1760 and 1770 on the site of an earlier fortified settlement. It follows an L-shaped, two-winged layout, with a later single-story extension attached to it. Its most distinctive feature is a small tower topped with an onion dome, rising from the mansard roof — the detail that catches the eye first from outside. The castle is surrounded by a park, and together with the building it is protected as a cultural monument of the Czech Republic. The interior is not open to the public, so a visit in practice means admiring the façade and walking around the park grounds from the outside.

What is the history behind it?

The site's history stretches back to the 14th century, when the village belonged to the Úlic family. From the 14th to the 17th century, the fortified settlement that once stood here was held by the Catholic nobility of the Úličtí of Plešnice family. The Baroque building seen today only took shape in the second half of the 18th century. In 1783 the estate passed to Josef Václav Soyer, and in 1795 it was bought by Alois Haffenbrädl, an entrepreneur in the glassmaking business. Later owners included the Czech nobleman Anastaz Herbig, from 1801, and the Macenauer family, from 1900. In the second half of the 20th century, under communist rule, the building housed the headquarters of a state farm — a fate shared by many Czech manor houses and castles that lost their residential purpose during that era.

How do you get there, and when's the best time to visit?

Úlice sits in a quiet, rural part of the Plzeň-North district, so the easiest way to reach it is by car — about a 20-minute drive from Plzeň. It fits well into a broader trip around western Czechia, for instance on the way between Plzeň and the region's smaller towns. Since the castle is privately owned and has no regular visiting hours for tourists, it's best planned as a brief stop along a route rather than the main destination of a trip. The surroundings are most pleasant in spring and summer, when the park's greenery sets off the Baroque architecture, though the building's historic character also suits an autumn visit.

Why is Úlice worth a look?

It's a good choice for anyone who values off-the-beaten-path spots and wants to see what provincial noble architecture in Czechia looked like — no lines, no tickets, just an authentic rural setting. The castle also illustrates how buildings like this changed function over the centuries: from a fortified manor, to a noble and then bourgeois residence, to the seat of an economic institution during the socialist era.

Frequently asked questions

Can you visit the inside of Úlice Castle? No, the building is privately owned and not open to the public — you can view it from outside and walk through the surrounding park.

How far is Úlice Castle from Plzeň? About 18 kilometers, roughly a 20-minute drive to the west.

Who owned the castle over the years? From the 14th century the estate belonged to the Úlic family and later the Úličtí of Plešnice nobility; in the 18th and 19th centuries it passed through the hands of Josef Václav Soyer, entrepreneur Alois Haffenbrädl, and the Herbig and Macenauer families.

Is the castle legally protected? Yes, the building and its adjoining park are listed as a cultural monument of the Czech Republic.