Zámek Horní Branná

Horní Branná Castle stands at the heart of the village that shares its name, in the Semily district of the Liberec Region, not far from the foothills of the Krkonoše mountains. Originally built as a fortified manor house, it has passed through the hands of several noble families, survived the ravages of the Thirty Years' War, and today operates as a small regional museum.

When was the castle first built?

Construction began in 1582 under Zdeněk of Valdštejn, a member of one of Bohemia's most prominent noble houses. He did not live to see it finished - his widow, Marie of Martinice, oversaw the completion of the project. The result was a two-storey structure with a stone ground floor and a timber upper floor ringed by open galleries, topped with a small turret on the roof ridge. Sgraffito decoration and painted inscriptions once covered much of the facade, making it one of the more richly ornamented residences in the region at the time.

Which families owned the estate?

Ownership passed first to Vilém of Valdštejn, and by 1594 the property was divided among three relatives - Adam, Vok, and Heník of Valdštejn. Adam gradually bought out his relatives' shares and became sole owner. In 1606 the estate changed hands again, sold to Václav Záruba of Hustířany. It was during his tenure that Jan Amos Komenský - the celebrated Czech educator and philosopher, better known abroad as Comenius - stayed briefly at the castle shortly before leaving the country for exile, an episode that remains the most frequently cited chapter in the building's history.

How badly was the castle damaged during the Thirty Years' War?

The conflict left its mark on Horní Branná: the wooden upper floor burned down and the building suffered extensive damage. During subsequent repairs, the surviving sgraffito work and inscriptions were plastered over, hiding them from view for roughly two centuries. It was only in 1868 that Count Jan of Harrach had the plaster stripped away again, though by then only fragments of the original decoration had survived.

What is inside the castle today?

The building now houses a memorial exhibition dedicated to Jan Amos Komenský, along with a ceremonial hall used for civil weddings and local events. The castle is listed as a Czech cultural monument, and visitors can combine a stop here with a walk around the village center or trips further into the Krkonoše foothills.

Is Horní Branná the same place as Lázně Bohdaneč?

No - and this is worth clarifying, since the names can cause confusion. Bohdaneč, sometimes linked with this location, is actually one of the settlements that make up the municipality of Horní Branná itself, in the Semily district. It has nothing to do with the spa town of Lázně Bohdaneč, which lies near Pardubice, in a different region of the Czech Republic entirely.

Frequently asked questions

Can visitors tour the castle? Yes. The building is open to the public and houses an exhibition on Jan Amos Komenský as well as a ceremonial hall.

Who built the castle? Construction started in 1582 under Zdeněk of Valdštejn and was finished by his widow, Marie of Martinice.

What was Comenský's connection to the castle? He stayed there briefly before going into exile, while the estate belonged to Václav Záruba of Hustířany.

Is Horní Branná the same as Lázně Bohdaneč? No. They are separate places in different regions of the Czech Republic - Horní Branná is in the Semily district, while Lázně Bohdaneč is near Pardubice.