Zalužany Castle

Zalužany Castle stands in the village of Zalužany, in the southern part of the Central Bohemian Region, in the Příbram District — roughly 19 km south of Příbram and 14 km east of Březnice. It's a modest but historically layered residence that passed through the hands of several notable Czech noble families before becoming private property.

How to get there?

Zalužany sits in a quiet, rural corner of the Příbram region, within reasonable reach of the main tourist routes of Central Bohemia. Traveling by car is the most convenient option, since the village connects via local roads to both Příbram and Březnice. Visitors relying on public transport should expect transfers and a longer journey, which is typical for smaller settlements in this part of the country.

What will you see?

The settlement's history goes back to the late 13th century — the earliest mentions of a fortified residence in Zalužany date from that period. By the end of the 13th century, the estate belonged to the Kamýk castle domain; in 1291 King Wenceslaus II exchanged it, most likely for other villages, with the Ostrov monastery, which held the property until 1313.

The present-day castle grew out of the reconstruction of an originally Gothic fortified residence, first in Renaissance and later in Baroque style. A two-story Renaissance manor house was built on the site of the earlier fortified estate and was subsequently remodeled in the Rococo style. The Koč family of Dobrše, who owned the estate from 1727 to 1775, played the key role in this transformation — it was under their ownership, between 1772 and 1775, that the building underwent its major Rococo renovation.

Among the castle's owners were also the Šternberk and Deym of Střítěž families, and in the 19th century the estate passed to the Schwarzenbergs. In 1802 or 1804, Karel Filip of Schwarzenberg purchased Zalužany and attached it to the Orlík estate; the Schwarzenberg family held the castle until 1922. Two years later, in 1924, the property was bought by the family of Václav Biskup of Žbonín.

After 1990, the original owners had the building restituted. Following necessary repairs, the castle was rented to the family of Carl Albrecht Waldstein, who used it as a family residence until 2005.

Today the castle, not normally open to the public, is available for weddings and private events. On such occasions, visitors can walk through almost all of the rooms of the original fortified residence and the later Renaissance castle with its Rococo alterations — a building whose story stretches back to the 13th century.

When to visit?

Because it functions as a private, rentable residence rather than a museum, the castle has no fixed public opening hours. The best opportunities to see it are occasional public events or a visit arranged through booking the venue for a celebration — it's worth checking current details with the estate's management or the Zalužany municipality beforehand.

Frequently asked questions

Is Zalužany Castle open to tourists? The building is not normally open for individual sightseeing — it operates as a private residence that can be rented for weddings and other events.

How old is the castle? A residence on this site is documented from the late 13th century, though the current appearance results from Renaissance, Baroque, and especially Rococo reconstructions carried out mainly between 1772 and 1775.

Who owned the castle over the centuries? Past owners included the Ostrov monastery, the Šternberk, Deym of Střítěž, and Koč of Dobrše families, the Schwarzenbergs, and the Biskup family of Žbonín.

Where is Zalužany located? In the village of Zalužany in the Příbram District, Central Bohemian Region, about 19 km south of Příbram and 14 km east of Březnice.