Zámek Lázeň

Lázeň Chateau is a small Empire-style manor house in Chudenice, in the Klatovy district of the Plzeň Region. It sits on the slope of Žďár hill, right at the spot where an iron-sulfur healing spring once flowed — and that spring is really where the whole story of the place begins.

How did the chateau come about?

The earliest written record dates back to 1786, when a wooden bathhouse (a "Badhaus") stood on the site. A few years later, between 1792 and 1794, Jan Rudolf Czernin of Chudenice had it rebuilt in stone. The Czernin family had held the surrounding estate for generations and used Lázeň as a summer retreat — a place to relax and to take the cure using the local mineral water. Over the following decades of the 19th century the building went through further remodeling, which gave it the Empire look it has today, complete with a columned portico and side wings.

What will you actually see there?

The chateau itself is a long, single-story building with a restrained, classicist form — no excessive grandeur, but a recognizable columned portico at its front. Around it spreads a large English-style park, where an arboretum known as "Americká zahrada" (American Garden) was planted as early as 1841, filled with trees and shrubs brought over from North America that still look unusual against a Czech landscape. The park also holds the Bolfánek lookout tower, which offers views over the surrounding countryside; the original healing spring is said to have been located near its base.

Who used to visit?

In the 19th century, Lázeň drew some notable figures of Czech cultural life. Historian František Palacký and linguist Josef Dobrovský, one of the key figures of the Czech National Revival, both spent time here, as did poet František Ladislav Čelakovský. The playwright Jaroslav Kvapil, who wrote the libretto for Antonín Dvořák's opera "Rusalka," is also linked to the place — he is said to have found inspiration here, and one of the nearby lakes carries his name.

What happened to the estate in the 20th century?

After the Second World War, in 1945, the property was nationalized and spent decades outside the family's hands, slowly falling into disrepair. That changed in December 2009, when the estate was returned to descendants of the Czernin family. Restoration work on the buildings and the park has been ongoing ever since.

Getting there and best time to visit

Chudenice lies in a quiet, rural part of the Plzeň Region, close to the Šumava area, making it a good stop when exploring the wider Klatovy district. Given its park-and-garden character, Lázeň is best visited in spring or summer, when the arboretum and the English park are at their most attractive.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is Lázeň Chateau different from the main Chudenice castle? Lázeň is a separate, smaller building — originally a bathhouse and summer residence built around a healing spring, rather than the family's main seat in the town itself.

Who built Lázeň Chateau? Jan Rudolf Czernin of Chudenice had it rebuilt in stone in the early 1790s, replacing an earlier wooden bathhouse first recorded in 1786.

What's worth seeing around the chateau? The surrounding English park with its "Americká zahrada" arboretum, planted in 1841, and the Bolfánek lookout tower.

Can visitors tour the chateau? The building and its park are open to visitors as part of Chudenice's tourist offer; it's worth checking current opening arrangements before a visit, since they can vary by season.