Zámek Houstouň

Houstouň Castle rises on the western edge of the small town of Hostouň in the Pilsen Region, standing on the footprint of a medieval stronghold once ringed by a wide moat. Few buildings in this corner of Bohemia have changed shape as often as this one — from a Gothic fortified manor to a Renaissance palace, then a Baroque residence, and finally today's care home for children and young people.

How did the castle come to look the way it does?

The settlement of Hostouň is already recorded in 1238, when a nobleman named Gumpert of Hostouň appears in the sources. The fortified manor itself has no confirmed founding date — the earliest written mention dates only to 1508, though the structure is believed to be considerably older. In the 16th century the Gutštejn family turned the modest stronghold into a spacious Renaissance seat, with four wings enclosing a square courtyard and a moat 10 to 20 metres wide. Descriptions from that era mention a two-storey building crowned with a Renaissance gable.

The mid-18th century brought another transformation: the Trautmannsdorf family rebuilt the castle in the Baroque style, lowering it by one floor and demolishing two of its four wings. That is why the building standing today has only two wings, and why — after further alterations in the 19th century — its architecture cannot be pinned to a single style. The moat lost its defensive purpose as early as 1656, though traces of it were still visible in the surrounding ground well into the 19th century.

What happened to it more recently?

The 20th century was rough on the building. Soviet troops were stationed inside until 1990, which took a toll on its condition. Once they left, the municipality sold the castle to the Agos Praha company for 1.5 million crowns; ownership then changed hands several more times, with the property's value reportedly climbing as high as 54 million crowns in one later sale. Since 2002 the castle has housed an educational institute for children and young people, and the building underwent a thorough reconstruction to serve that purpose — so unlike many Czech chateaux, it is neither abandoned nor crumbling.

What can you actually see there?

Because the castle now operates as a residential care and education facility, its interior is not open to visitors — worth knowing before you plan a stop. You can, however, view the building from outside, set within a large, somewhat overgrown park that makes for a pleasant short walk on its own. The castle stands apart from the town's main streets, on raised ground next to the Church of St James the Greater, which dominates Hostouň's skyline. In the town itself, it's also worth seeking out the Chapel of Corpus Christi, the cemetery chapel of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, and a sculptural group depicting the Holy Trinity.

How do you get to Hostouň?

Hostouň lies in the Domažlice district, in the western part of the Pilsen Region, close to the German border. The town has had a rail connection since 1910 on the Tachov–Domažlice line, and is also reachable by road from nearby Domažlice and Horšovský Týn. It makes a convenient base for exploring the Český les (Bohemian Forest border hills) and the Chodsko region.

When is the best time to visit?

Spring and summer are ideal, when the park around the castle is green and inviting for a slow walk, and the longer daylight hours make it easy to combine a visit with hikes on the nearby Chodsko trails. In autumn, the town and surrounding hills take on an especially scenic, colourful character.

Frequently asked questions

Can you go inside the castle? No — since 2002 the building has served as an educational institute for children and young people, so it is closed to tourists.

What makes this castle stand out among Czech chateaux? Its building history is almost a textbook case of defensive architecture evolving over time: from a Gothic stronghold, to a four-winged Renaissance palace, to the smaller two-winged Baroque castle that stands today.

Is there anything else worth seeing in Hostouň? Yes — the Church of St James the Greater, the Chapel of Corpus Christi, the cemetery chapel of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, and a Holy Trinity sculptural group, all within easy reach of the castle.

How can you reach Hostouň without a car? The town is served by the Tachov–Domažlice railway line, and buses also connect it with Domažlice, the largest town in the region.