Častolovice
- Clasificación
- Castillo
- País
- Chequia
- Región
- Rychnov nad Kněžnou
- Dirección
- Masarykova 1, 517 50 Častolovice
The Renaissance château of Častolovice, situated 10 km south-west of Rychnov nad Kněžnou, was returned in restitution in 1992 to Diana Phipps, born Sternberg, who upon her return to Bohemia undertook the restoration and improvement of both the château and park. Visitors may view the château's permanent exhibition, visit the château gallery, browse the gift shop, and take refreshment in the courtyard café. The adjacent English-style park contains a rose garden and water garden, a château menagerie, a deer park with white fallow deer, a children's playground, and the Gloriet pavilion. The history of Častolovice château reaches back to the 13th century, when a moated manor stood here, its first known owners being the lords of Častolovice. The estate later passed through various hands; among the most significant owners was King Jiří of Poděbrady and Kunštát. In 1588 Častolovice came into the possession of the Oppersdorf family, who had the original moated manor rebuilt as a Renaissance château. In 1694 the highest burgrave of Prague, Oldřich Adolf Vratislav, imperial count of Sternberg, purchased Častolovice. The estate then remained in the possession of the Sternberg family until 1940, when it passed under German forced administration, which compelled the Sternberg family to abandon not only the château but the entire estate. After the Second World War Count Leopold Sternberg returned with his wife Cecílie and daughter Diana to the château at Častolovice, but only until 1948, when the château was seized by the state and the Sternberg family was forced to leave not only the château but the entire country. They emigrated abroad, first to the United States and then to Jamaica, where Leopold Sternberg died in 1957. In 1992, under the restitution laws, the family's hereditary property, including the châteaux at Častolovice and Zásmuky, was returned to his daughter Diana Phipps-Sternberg. The publicly accessible exhibition comprises the former ceremonial and residential rooms with a unique collection of paintings assembled by the Sternbergs over more than 300 years. It includes works by Škréta, Teniers, Schönfeld, and other Baroque masters. In the Knights' Hall, which by its dimensions ranks among the largest Renaissance halls in Bohemia, the coffered ceiling bears paintings depicting scenes from the Old Testament. The walls of this hall are lined with historical portraits of the Sternberg family. The English-style park, covering a total of 42 hectares, was laid out in the 19th century. The park includes a deer park with white fallow deer and a château menagerie where children and adults alike may view, touch, and feed various species of domestic and exotic animals. In the menagerie live emu and rhea ostriches, llamas, Shetland ponies, donkeys, goats, sheep, and piglets. The aviaries are home to various species of parrots and pheasants, while pigeons, guinea fowl, peacocks, and dwarf rabbits roam freely. The château hosts wedding ceremonies, banquets, family or corporate celebrations, and other cultural events. The entire château and park is accessible without barriers. Parking for vehicles is provided at two car parks in close proximity to the château.