Vičice Castle

Vičice Castle sits in the small hamlet of the same name, right below the dam wall of the Nechranice reservoir, on the left bank of the Ohře river, within the municipality of Březno in the Chomutov district (Ústí nad Labem region). This Baroque manor has a history stretching back to the turn of the 17th century, and while it remains privately owned and closed to indoor visits, it still makes a worthwhile stop for anyone exploring the Nechranice dam area.

How do you get to Vičice Castle?

Vičice is a hamlet administratively part of Březno, located immediately below the front wall of the Nechranice dam. The easiest approach is by car from Chomutov or Kadaň, following the road that runs along the top of the dam, which offers wide views over the reservoir. Walking or cycling along the Ohře riverside trail is another option popular with people touring the area around the lake. The settlement itself has little tourist infrastructure — it works best as a stop along the way rather than a destination in itself, so it's worth pairing a visit with a walk on the dam or time by the water.

What is the history behind the castle?

An older fortified manor (tvrz) once stood on the site of today's castle. In 1591 Karel Hruška of Březno sold his share of the estate to Linhart of Štampach, who went on to buy up further portions from other owners. The estate was finally united in 1614, when Jan Jindřich of Štampach purchased the remaining share from Vilém of Doupov and had a hunting lodge with a farmyard built on the older foundations.

After the defeat of the Bohemian Estates Uprising, the Štampach family lost the property to confiscation, and in 1623 the estate passed as a pledge to Jaroslav Bořita of Martinice. It was the Martinice family who, in the early 18th century, rebuilt the older tvrz into a Baroque castle, which served as a hunting residence and also housed apartments for the family's officials. In 1702, Emperor Joseph I visited the castle, where he had lunch and took part in hunts in the surrounding forests.

At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries the estate belonged to Franz Preidl and Emanuel Karsch, owners of the Prunéřov brewery. After 1990 it was bought by the local company Sady a školky Vičice, based in Březno, which carried out a partial reconstruction of the building.

What does the architecture look like?

The castle follows a Baroque U-shaped layout typical of hunting residences from this period. The courtyard-facing wall of the main wing features an external staircase, while paired Renaissance windows survive on all facades — a legacy of the building's earlier construction phase. Inside, fragments of Renaissance decoration remain visible, even though the structure as a whole reads as clearly Baroque following the early 18th-century rebuild.

Can visitors go inside the castle?

No — the castle is privately owned and its interior is not open to the public. It can, however, be viewed from the outside while walking along the road that runs beneath the dam. A local business producing hemp-based products operates on the estate grounds, which adds a small extra point of interest for anyone passing through this part of the Chomutov district.

What else is worth seeing nearby?

The main draw of the area is the Nechranice reservoir itself — one of the largest earth dams in the Czech Republic and a popular spot for sailing, fishing, and swimming. It's worth combining a stop at the castle with a walk along the top of the dam and a short visit to Březno, from where several hiking trails follow the Ohře river.

Frequently asked questions

Can you enter Vičice Castle? No, the building is privately owned and closed to visitors — only an exterior view is possible.

Who built the current castle? Its present form dates to the Martinice family, who rebuilt the older Štampach hunting lodge into a Baroque castle in the early 18th century.

Did any notable figures visit the castle? Yes — in 1702 Emperor Joseph I visited, had lunch there, and hunted in the surrounding forests.

How far is the castle from the Nechranice reservoir? The castle stands right below the dam's front wall, so reaching the top of the dam on foot takes only a few minutes.