Zámek Černice

Černice Castle is a Baroque hunting lodge in the municipality of Sudoměřice u Bechyně, in South Bohemia, roughly 2 km from the village of Bechyňská Smoleč. Its unusual star-shaped floor plan gave it a second, more popular name: Hvězda, the Czech word for "star."

How did the castle get its name?

The site's history predates the building itself by nearly two centuries. In 1586, Petr Vok of Rožmberk established a hunting preserve here — the Černická obora — on the site of a village called Černičky. The settlement did not survive the creation of the game park and eventually disappeared from the map.

The lodge itself was built much later, between 1765 and 1766, commissioned by Prince Václav Paar. The design came from architect Jan Josef Wirch, who chose an unconventional layout over a conventional palace design.

What makes the building's architecture distinctive?

Wirch centered the structure on a hexagonal hall, from which three rectangular wings extend outward. Seen from above, the whole building forms a three-pointed star — the source of its nickname, Hvězda, used almost as often as "Černice" itself. This kind of layout was unusual for its time, and it remains the main reason to seek the place out: there is no elaborate ornamentation here, just a compact, purpose-built hunting lodge whose shape does the talking.

What surrounds the castle?

The lodge sits on the edge of the Černická obora, the former game preserve. Part of that land was turned into a nature reserve as early as 1880, making it one of the oldest protected areas in the Czech lands. Between the star-shaped lodge and the old-growth forest around it, the site today is arguably more interesting as a piece of landscape than as a monument.

Can visitors go inside?

After World War II the property passed to the state forestry administration. Today it belongs to a private company and operates as part of the Panství Bechyně Castle Resort. It isn't run as a museum with regular opening hours — the building is mainly used for weddings and corporate events, so getting inside usually means booking the venue rather than buying a ticket for a guided tour.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Černice Castle located? In the municipality of Sudoměřice u Bechyně, South Bohemia, about 2 km from Bechyňská Smoleč.

When was the castle built? Between 1765 and 1766, commissioned by Prince Václav Paar and designed by architect Jan Josef Wirch.

Why is it also called Hvězda? Because its floor plan — a hexagonal central hall with three rectangular wings — forms a three-pointed star when seen from above.

Is the castle open to the public? It's privately owned and mainly hosts weddings and corporate events, so there's no regular museum-style visiting schedule.