Zámek Hluboš

Zámek Hluboš is a late Baroque castle in the municipality of Hluboš, on the southern edge of the Brdy hills, about 7 km from Příbram. Its closest neighbor is Kardavec, a small settlement that is part of the municipality and lies right next to the castle grounds. The site has a rich history stretching back to the 14th century and a notable link to Czechoslovakia's first president.

How did the castle come to be?

The first written mention of Hluboš dates from 1355, when a medieval fortress stood on the site. That fortress was rebuilt into a castle in 1546. Over the following centuries, between the 15th and 18th centuries, ownership of the estate changed hands around 25 times, mostly among members of the lesser nobility who bought and sold the property relatively often.

The defining transformation came in the second half of the 18th century under owner Jan Antonín Hochberg of Hannersdorf. He had the old, repeatedly altered fortress torn down and replaced with a residence built to his own taste and the fashion of the time — this is how the castle acquired its Baroque form. Around 1872 the building was further extended and remodeled in a pseudo-Renaissance style, still visible today in the facade and several architectural details.

Why is the castle linked to T. G. Masaryk?

After Czechoslovakia was founded, the Öttingen family, who owned the castle, leased it to the presidential office. Between 1920 and 1921, President Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk used it as his first summer residence — a period when the young state was still building the infrastructure befitting a head of state, and Hluboš briefly became the informal center of the president's summer stays.

In 1925 the castle was bought by Josef Kolařík, an industrialist from Příbram. His family held the property until it was nationalized in 1950, when ownership passed to the state.

What happened to the castle after 1950?

Since 1958 the castle has been protected as a cultural monument. Despite that status, the building fell into serious disrepair over the following decades and now needs extensive restoration work. Today a non-profit organization, Zámek Hluboš s.r.o., is working step by step to rescue and repair the site.

How do you get to Hluboš and Kardavec?

The municipality of Hluboš sits on the southern foothills of the Brdy range, roughly 7 km from Příbram, so it's easily reached by car via the roads linking Příbram with the surrounding villages. Kardavec, as part of the municipality, has only a little over 70 residents and lies right beside the castle — a quiet, rural spot well suited to combining a visit to the historic building with a walk through the Podbrdsko landscape.

When is the best time to visit?

Because restoration work is ongoing, it's worth checking current access options with the organization looking after the castle before you go. The Brdy and Podbrdsko region is worth visiting year-round, but spring and autumn offer the most pleasant conditions for walking around the castle grounds.

Frequently asked questions

Is Zámek Hluboš open to visitors? The building has long been in poor condition and is currently undergoing restoration, so it's best to check current visiting options in advance.

Why is the castle connected to T. G. Masaryk? Between 1920 and 1921 it served as his first presidential summer residence, before he moved to other, more representative properties.

When was the castle built? A castle was built in 1546 on the site of a medieval fortress first mentioned in 1355; it was substantially rebuilt in the 18th century and extended around 1872.

What is Kardavec? It's a small settlement that is part of the Hluboš municipality, with fewer than a hundred residents, located right next to the castle.