Častolovice – Château Culture and Animal Experiences in Czechia

Častolovice combines an impressive château history, sacred art and a varied visitor experience centred around the park, rose collection and château zoo. For families and culture enthusiasts, the town therefore offers a range of points of interest: you can discover historical details, admire remarkable buildings and at the same time encounter animals in an environment expressly designed for children and adults.

Château history with Renaissance character

Častolovice Château developed from a water fortress dating back to the 13th century and was converted into a Renaissance château between 1588 and 1615. This transformation in particular makes the building an illustrative example of how a historic structure has changed over several eras. The château is also part of the tourism product “Zámky na Orlici – Česká Loira”, which describes its place within a larger cultural and château landscape.

The Knights’ Hall at Častolovice Château contains 24 depictions from the Old Testament. The Šternberk family gallery is also located there. Both details give the Knights’ Hall a clearly recognisable historical and family character, without requiring the room to be appreciated solely through its architecture.

Churches and chapel as a cultural complement

The Baroque Church of St. Vitus is also part of the town’s history. Its construction began in 1772, and the tower is 36 metres high. The church contains an organ built as a mechanical two-manual instrument with a pedalboard. It was built in 1795 by Jan Jiří Španiel from Rokytnice v Orlických horách. For visitors interested in historic craftsmanship and sacred interiors, this combination of architectural history and musical instrument provides a distinct focus.

The Chapel of St. Mary Magdalene was built in 1580 and remodelled into its present form in 1832. It thus complements the Baroque church with another sacred building that has its own chronological development. In Častolovice, several historical layers can therefore be viewed side by side: the medieval origins of the water fortress, the Renaissance remodelling of the château and the later changes to the church and chapel.

English Park, Roses and Château Zoo

The English park of Častolovice Château covers more than 40 hectares. A special feature is the rose collection in the château park, which includes more than 220 varieties of rose bushes. The park therefore provides not only the historic setting for the château, but also a subject in its own right for anyone interested in gardens and plant diversity.

The château zoo in Častolovice is open to the public all year round. Visitors can see emus, llamas, ponies, donkeys, goats, sheep and alpacas there. The zoo was designed as a place where children and adults can come into contact with domestic and exotic animals. For families, this creates a clearly distinct experience alongside the historic sights: the château’s history focuses attention on buildings, rooms and eras, while the zoo enables encounters with various animal species.

More destinations for your search

If you would like to consider further destinations for your travel planning in addition to Častolovice, you can also find Rokytnice V Orlických Horách, Polom U Potštejna, Mokré, Val U Dobrušky, Liberk, Králova Lhota, Bystré and Solnice.

For the higher-level travel overview: Okres Rychnov Nad Kněžnou.