Loučeň Chateau

Loučeň Chateau is a Baroque residence in the small town of Loučeň in Central Bohemia, set inside a large English-style park that hides a unique group of twelve hedge mazes. For generations the estate belonged to the House of Thurn und Taxis, the noble family famous across Europe for running an early postal network, and today it ranks among the country's best-known chateaus for family visits.

Where is the chateau, and what is Loučeň?

Loučeň is a small market town in the Nymburk District, part of the Central Bohemian Region, roughly 12 km north of the town of Nymburk. Its municipality also includes a few neighboring settlements, among them Patřín, which is why the chateau is sometimes listed together with that village's name. Loučeň itself is first mentioned in written records back in 1223, although the present-day chateau was built much later, on the site of an older fortified manor.

Who built the chateau, and who owned it?

The Loučeň estate was bought in 1623 by Adam von Waldstein, an uncle of the famous military commander Albrecht von Waldstein (Wallenstein). In the early 18th century, the Waldstein family had a Baroque residence built on the site of the older manor house, a project usually attributed to the architect František Maxmilián Kaňka. Over the following two centuries ownership changed hands more than once: after the Waldsteins, the estate passed to the House of Fürstenberg, and in the 19th century it became the property of the princely House of Thurn und Taxis, who kept it until the end of the Second World War. It was under the Thurn und Taxis family, in the early 19th century, that the large English park surrounding the chateau was laid out.

What makes the chateau park so unusual?

The park at Loučeň is best known for its labyrinthinarium, a group of twelve different hedge mazes and puzzle paths unlike anything else found in Central Europe. One of them is a maze made of tiles spelling out the lyrics of a well-known Czech song about a mail coachman, a deliberate nod to the Thurn und Taxis family's long connection to the European postal service. Another maze, in the chateau's courtyard, is lit up at night so visitors can keep exploring after dark. The mazes and the wider park are aimed mainly at families with children, though the site draws visitors of all ages.

What can visitors see and do at the chateau today?

The chateau interiors opened to the public in 2007 and have since become a regular fixture among the most visited castles and chateaus in the Czech Republic. Tours are run in costume, with guides playing roles such as the butler, the maid, or the family's children, bringing to life the everyday routines of the last noble residents. Separate themed tours are organized for younger visitors, and guided tours in English or German can be arranged with advance booking.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Loučeň Chateau located? In the market town of Loučeň, in the Nymburk District of Central Bohemia, about 12 km north of Nymburk; the municipality also includes the neighboring village of Patřín.

Who owned the chateau? The Waldstein family from 1623, later the House of Fürstenberg, and from the 19th century until the end of World War II, the princely House of Thurn und Taxis.

What is the park famous for? Its labyrinthinarium, twelve hedge mazes including one spelling out song lyrics in tiles and an illuminated maze in the chateau courtyard.

Since when has the chateau been open to visitors? The interiors have been open to the public since 2007.

Can the chateau be visited in English? Yes, guided tours in English (and German) can be booked in advance.