Valeč

Valeč is a small municipality in the Karlovy Vary Region of the Czech Republic, situated in the Doupov Mountains roughly 27 kilometres east of the spa town of Karlovy Vary. The village was first documented in 1358 and today the municipality is made up of five parts — Valeč itself, along with Jeřeň, Kostrčany, Nahořečice and Velký Hlavákov — with a combined population of around 320 people.

What makes the Valeč castle complex worth visiting?

The main draw for visitors is the Baroque palace and park complex that dominates the village. It took shape between 1694 and 1718, when the earlier structure was thoroughly rebuilt and expanded on the initiative of Johann Christoph Freiherr von Steinbach. Construction was overseen first by Francesco Barelli and later by Giovanni Antonio Biana Rossa. The result is a residence that combines refined Baroque architecture with an extensive landscaped park, an unusually complete example of high Baroque design paired with landscape planning.

Why is Valeč linked to Baroque sculpture?

The park houses an outstanding collection of sculptures produced in the workshop of Matthias Bernhard Braun and his nephew Anton. Braun's workshop supplied Valeč with 32 sandstone statues depicting allegories of human virtues, art and science, as well as figures drawn from classical mythology. In terms of scale and artistic value, this collection is considered second in the Czech Republic only to the famous sculptural ensemble at Kuks in East Bohemia.

How did the castle fare after the Second World War?

The building's history has not always matched its elegant Baroque appearance. In the second half of the 19th century the estate passed to the counts of Thurn von Weidenheim, who held it until the end of the Second World War. Afterwards the castle briefly served as a sanatorium for war veterans, then in the 1950s as a shelter for Korean children, and for a long stretch later as a children's home. In 1976 a serious fire damaged a substantial part of the complex.

What can visitors see in Valeč today?

Restoration work continues to this day, but the complex is already open to the public. Guests can tour the castle interiors and a more recently opened lapidarium displaying sculptures by the Baroque master Matthias Bernhard Braun. The combination of architecture, garden design and sculpture makes Valeč one of the more distinctive, if still lesser-known, day-trip destinations in the Karlovy Vary region.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Valeč located? In the Karlovy Vary Region, in the Doupov Mountains, about 27 km east of Karlovy Vary.

What is Valeč's main attraction? Its Baroque palace and park complex, home to a large collection of sculptures from Matthias Bernhard Braun's workshop.

How many people live in Valeč? The municipality has a total population of around 320 across its five constituent parts.

Can the castle be visited? Yes — despite ongoing restoration, the castle interiors and the Braun sculpture lapidarium are open to visitors.