Ošelín Castle

Ošelín Castle is today little more than a ruin, though it still stands right at the heart of the village of Ošelín in the Tachov district, Plzeň Region. The building carries more than five centuries of history behind it — from a medieval fortress, through a Baroque conversion, to a post-war decline and its current abandoned state.

Where does the castle at Ošelín come from?

The site was originally occupied by a tvrz, a small fortified manor typical of minor Bohemian nobility. Its existence is confirmed by a record from 1497, when the estate was purchased by Jan Lejtolt of Ebrnice together with his wife, who came from the Šternberk family. This transaction is the earliest known written mention of a building on the site.

How was the estate split and reunited in the 16th century?

In 1545 the property was divided into two halves — one going to the Lejtolt line, the other to the Jáchym line. The two parts came back together in 1585 under Kašpar of Kečov, who inherited one half and bought the other from Maruše of Ebrnice. After Kašpar's death in 1599, the whole estate passed to his daughter, Anna of Kečov.

Who took over Ošelín at the turn of the 17th century?

Anna of Kečov handed the estate to Jan Bartoloměj Širntyngar of Širntynk, a Protestant nobleman who moved into the old fortress. His faith had political consequences: in 1622, following the defeat of the Protestant estates, his property was confiscated. Formally, however, Ošelín remained with his wife Anna, which allowed the family to keep its ties to the place.

When did the fortress become a Baroque castle?

The old tvrz was rebuilt into a single-story Baroque castle around 1786 — though historians have not fully settled on the exact year. The project is attributed to František Jáchym of Širntynk. From that point on, the building lost its defensive character in favor of a purely residential role, typical of minor gentry seats in the Tachov region at the time.

What happened to the castle in the 20th century?

After 1925, the building began serving educational purposes, housing a school of some kind. Ownership up to 1935 rested with the Bigotto family, after which the estate was inherited by a physician, Klement Podevil. Following 1945, as part of the postwar reshuffling of property, the castle passed into state ownership and was used for municipal purposes.

Why is the castle a ruin today?

The building's fortunes turned once it passed into private hands again in later decades. One of its more recent owners had the roof and the damaged timber structure removed, then lost interest in maintaining the property any further. Left without a roof or any protection, the building deteriorated quickly, turning into the ruin that still occupies the center of the village today. The castle is not listed as a protected cultural monument, which limits any formal means of pressuring the owner into repairs.

Who owns the castle now?

The site remains privately owned. The Ošelín municipality, even though the ruin sits right in the village center and shapes its image, has no legal tools to force the owner to rebuild or secure the structure.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Ošelín Castle located? In the center of the village of Ošelín, in the Tachov district, Plzeň Region, Czech Republic.

What did the castle grow out of? A medieval tvrz first recorded in 1497, rebuilt into a Baroque castle around 1786.

Who rebuilt the fortress into a castle? The conversion is attributed to František Jáchym of Širntynk, though the exact date has not been definitively confirmed.

Who owned the castle in the 20th century? The Bigotto family until 1935, then physician Klement Podevil, and after 1945 the state.

Can the castle be visited today? No — it is a privately owned ruin, not listed as a protected monument, and does not function as an official tourist attraction.