Veleslavín Castle in Prague

Veleslavín Castle is a small Baroque manor house in Prague's Veleslavín neighborhood, part of the Prague 6 district, set within a modest park and only recently reopened to the public after decades of use as a medical facility. It is not among Prague's grand palaces, but its story stretches back to a Benedictine monastery and includes a surprising chapter in the history of medicine.

When was the castle built, and who designed it?

The current building went up between 1730 and 1750 in the Baroque style, and it is generally attributed to Kilián Ignác Dientzenhofer, one of the leading architects working in Bohemia at the time. It stands on the site of the former village of Veleslavín, first documented in the founding charter of the Břevnov Benedictine Monastery in 993, which held the surrounding land for centuries afterward. Toward the end of the 19th century, the building gained small Neo-Baroque wings, giving it the slightly larger footprint it has today.

What history unfolded inside its walls?

Around the turn of the 20th century, the property shifted from private residence to medical institution. In 1910, cousins Leo Kosák and Oskar Fischer bought the estate and turned it into a sanatorium for nervous and pulmonary conditions. It was here that Oskar Fischer carried out research that led him to independently describe the condition now known as Alzheimer's disease, a lesser-known but genuinely notable episode in the building's history. The clinic also drew other prominent figures: Charlotta Masaryková, wife of Czechoslovakia's first president, was treated there, and Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk himself visited the castle after returning to the country, later keeping an office on the premises.

What happened to the castle in later decades?

After the Second World War, from the 1950s onward, the building passed into state ownership and was designated a cultural monument. It continued functioning as a medical facility for decades. Until 2015 it was managed by the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, and a private clinic kept operating there until 2018, when the pulmonology practice relocated to Motol Hospital. From that point on, the building sat largely unused and fell into gradual disrepair.

Who manages the castle today?

In June 2024, the Prague 6 municipal district took over management of the site, allowing the surrounding park to open to the public for the first time in years. The park is accessible daily from 8:00 to 20:00, though the building itself remains largely closed for safety reasons. In spring 2026, Prague's city council approved a plan to purchase the entire estate from the state, aiming to secure its long-term future. District officials are now looking for partners to restore the complex's neglected buildings and to develop a sustainable model for using the site for cultural, social and educational purposes.

What does the castle look like today?

The building is single-storey, with a central projecting risalit topped by a small tower, a layout typical of Baroque residences of that period. It sits within a small, intimate park, though a nearby heating plant slightly affects the setting. Despite its modest scale, the castle remains a notable example of Baroque secular architecture in Prague 6, and a witness to a varied history spanning monastery estate, noble residence, medical clinic and shared public space.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Veleslavín Castle located? In the Veleslavín neighborhood of Prague 6, on Veleslavínská street, a few minutes' walk from a Metro Line A station.

Who designed the building? It is generally attributed to Kilián Ignác Dientzenhofer, with construction dated to between 1730 and 1750.

Can visitors go inside the castle? The building itself remains largely closed to the public, but the surrounding park is open daily from 8:00 to 20:00.

What is the castle's connection to Alzheimer's disease? Oskar Fischer, who ran the sanatorium here after 1910, carried out research at the site that led him to independently describe what is now known as Alzheimer's disease.

What is planned for the castle's future? The city of Prague intends to purchase the site from the state, and the Prague 6 district is seeking partners to restore the buildings and establish a lasting use for cultural and community purposes.