Žichovice Castle

Žichovice Castle is a Renaissance residence that grew out of an older fortified manor house in the village of Žichovice, in the Klatovy district of the Plzeň region. The whole castle complex has been protected as a cultural monument since 1964, and today its restored rooms serve as residential apartments.

How did the first stronghold at Žichovice come about?

In 1559, the nobleman Jan Kavka Říčanský of Říčany bought the village of Žichovice from Vilém of Rožmberk. Soon after acquiring the estate, he founded a fortified Renaissance house on the site — the modest stronghold that would later grow into the present castle. The first written record of the building itself dates to 1603, although the monument register places its existence as early as 1577.

Who turned the fortress into a castle?

In 1603, the estate was bought for 25,000 Meissen groschen by Jindřich Libštejnský of Kolovrat. It was under his ownership that the older fortified house was rebuilt into a Renaissance castle, giving the complex the basic form it has kept ever since. Decades later, in 1680, a castle chapel was added to the grounds, rounding out the existing buildings.

Why did ownership change hands in the 18th century?

Later owners of the estate ran into debt, which eventually forced a sale in 1707. The buyer was Jan Filip of Lamberg, bishop of Passau. From that point on, for more than two centuries, Žichovice belonged to the Lamberg family, who carried out only minor alterations without significantly altering the castle's Renaissance character.

What does the castle's architecture look like?

The building follows an L-shaped floor plan and consists of several wings covered with roofs featuring distinctive Renaissance gables. Rising above the complex is a square clock tower, visible from a distance and serving as a landmark for the surrounding area. This combination of a modest, defensive origin with later Renaissance additions makes Žichovice one of the more interesting, if lesser-known, examples of castle architecture in the Klatovy region.

What is the castle used for today?

After years of use, the building underwent renovation, and its interiors were converted into residential apartments. As a result, the castle does not function as a typical tourist attraction with regular guided tours, but instead remains a living part of the village of Žichovice — an example, visible from the outside, of a centuries-long transformation of a noble residence.

Where is Žichovice Castle located?

The castle stands in the village of Žichovice itself, in the Klatovy district of the Plzeň region in western Bohemia, an area known for numerous castles and fortified manor houses built on the foundations of older noble strongholds.

Frequently Asked Questions

When was the first stronghold at Žichovice built? The village was purchased in 1559 by Jan Kavka Říčanský of Říčany, who soon after founded a Renaissance fortified house there. The first written record of the building dates to 1603.

Who rebuilt the fortress into a castle? Jindřich Libštejnský of Kolovrat, who bought the estate in 1603 for 25,000 Meissen groschen and rebuilt the older fortress into a Renaissance castle.

How long did the Lamberg family own the castle? From 1707, when the estate was bought by the Passau bishop Jan Filip of Lamberg, the Lamberg family remained owners of Žichovice for more than two centuries, into the mid-20th century.

What does Žichovice Castle look like? The building has an L-shaped layout, Renaissance gables on its roofs, and a distinctive square clock tower.

Can the castle be visited today? Since its renovation, the castle contains residential apartments, so it is not a typical attraction with regular tours — but it can be viewed from the outside while walking through the village of Žichovice.