Discover Častolovice

Častolovice can be explored from various perspectives: through the history of the castle, its churches and chapel, and its park and wildlife. The building history stretches from the castle’s origins as a water fortress to later changes to the religious buildings. The English park and rose collection add a focus on gardens, while the castle zoo offers another theme centered on animals.

Castle History and the Knights’ Hall

Častolovice Castle developed from a 13th-century water fortress and was converted into a Renaissance castle between 1588 and 1615. Its origins and later form therefore belong to different historical periods. The dates help explain the conversion as a later change to the complex, not the moment of its founding.

The castle’s Knights’ Hall contains 24 depictions from the Old Testament; it also houses the Šternberk family gallery. The hall thus brings together two distinct themes: biblical imagery and family history. This adds a look at the castle’s exhibits to the story of its architectural development.

Churches and Chapel

Construction of the Baroque Church of St. Vitus began in 1772; its tower is 36 meters high. The church has a mechanical two-manual organ with a pedal. Jan Jiří Španiel of Rokytnice v Orlických horách built the instrument in 1795. The church and organ offer different historical points of interest: the church’s Baroque character and the history of a specifically named instrument and its builder.

The Chapel of St. Mary Magdalene also has two notable dates: it was built in 1580 and remodeled into its present form in 1832. The dates mark two different phases of construction: the original building and its later redesign. This makes it possible to trace the chapel’s history from its origins to its present form.

English Park, Roses and Castle Zoo

The English park at Častolovice Castle covers more than 40 hectares and is a landscape attraction in its own right. The rose collection within the castle park includes more than 220 varieties of rose bushes. The park’s size and diverse garden collection provide two specific points of interest. The roses bloom seasonally. If they are a key part of your trip, take this seasonal variation into account when choosing your dates.

Visitors to the Častolovice castle zoo can see emus, llamas, ponies, donkeys, goats, sheep and alpacas. The animals on offer may change over time. The zoo is designed to give children and adults the opportunity to interact with domestic and exotic animals; specific opportunities for interaction may be subject to on-site rules. The zoo is open to the public year-round. In terms of planning your visit, the park’s attractions differ considerably: the roses bloom seasonally, while the zoo is open year-round. Check the zoo’s current operating details before your trip.

Discover more destinations: Jahodov, Hřibiny-Ledská, Přepychy, Kostelec Nad Orlicí, Lukavice, Sedlonov, Rybná Nad Zdobnicí, Dobruska

For the regional travel overview: Okres Rychnov Nad Kněžnou.