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Historic residences

Historic residences

There are places hidden in the borderland hills of the Eagle Mountains and foothills, which are riddled with secrets and legends of treasures, medieval castle ruins, fragments of walls or defence towers guarding passages through the landscape. The ruggedness of the Eagle Mountains and picturesque beauty of its landscape already attracted estate owners to come and build their defence and later on representative residences as well. Over time, their construction was moved to the valley, to more accessible and fertile places around the Divoká and Tichá Orlice Rivers. Grand and spectacular residences of noble families and prominent townsmen still stand here today. They remind us of the glamour and glory of monarch times and present a cultural heritage treasure. They guard documents of long ago.

The administrative centre of the region and representative residence of the Pernštejn family in their day was Potštejn Castle, the neighbouring castle Litice nad Orlicí was owned by kings Jan Lucemburský, Karel IV and Jiří of Poděbrad. Significant European architects imprinted the unique look on Opočno’s chateau and the chateau rooms conceal collections of period weapons and trophies. Many residences are accessible to the public and offer romantic wedding ceremonies.

And like France has its chateaux on the Loire, the Eagle Mountain foothills have their castles on the Orlice River. Thus do not hesitate to visit one of the chateaux while wandering through the foothills of the Eagle Mountains.

Châteaux on the Orlice - French Phenomenon on a Czech River

Being not just a phenomenon associated with the Eagle Mountains and Foothills region (aka Podorlicko region), but also a great tip for your summertime trips, the châteaux on the river Orlice are often aptly referred to as the Bohemian Loire, because, similarly as this French river, also the Divoká Orlice (aka Wild Eagle River) interconnects a number of historic mansions here. Several castles and châteaux are scattered within a radius of mere 9 km. What is more, a considerable part of them is still in the hands of old noble families or private owners, which is their additional unique feature. It is therefore no exception that you can meet their noble owners in person here. At Nový zámek (New Chateau) in Kostelec nad Orlicí, even František Kinský himself guides the visitors around his property several times a year.

You can combine the guided tours of the châteaux with friendly get-togethers at the castle cafés, pastry shops or restaurants, walks through the parks and game-preserves, or you can attend some of the events of the traditionally colorful cultural season. Each of the châteaux has its exceptional and specific offering, so the châteaux actually do not compete, but they rather complement each other, thus providing their visitors with a highly diverse portfolio of offers in one place - something unmatched in the Czech Republic also as far as the concentration of historic sites is concerned. The pleasant settings will appeal to children, too.

You will find cozy interiors, a park with a water garden or the children's favorite château menagerie at Častolovice Château, you will be awaited by a varied range of cultural events and a much sought-after Tonio's café and restaurant at Nový zámek in Kostelec nad Orlicí, while the Doudleby nad Orlicí Château will rather attract by its exceptional sgraffito decorations, Farmer's Markets or the Granny's Backyard (Babiččin dvoreček) and Potštejn Château will dazzle you with its animated sightseeing tours for a change. If you then climb up the steep slopes to Potštejn or Litice Castles, you will be rewarded by some spectacular views of the whole region.

And those who may feel this cultural parade is still just not enough are advised to travel a little further to Kolowrat Chateau in Rychnov nad Kněžnou, to the Colloredo-Mansfeld birthplace in Opočno or to the Orlice Stronghold in Letohrad.

So do not hesitate to make a stop and check some of these attractions while travelling around the Eagle Mountains and Foothills!

Inspirational programmes

Châteaux on the Orlice number of days: 3

Monuments in Rychnov nad Kněžnou number of days: 1

Search buildings

Number of searched records: 32

	Castle Potštejn While only ruins remain today, Potštejn at one time was one of the largest and most important castles in the country. The castle changed owners many times after its founding in the 13th century. Important... tel.: 494546812, 494546810, 603416959 Address: Hrad Potštejn, Potštejn
	Žampach Chateau The arboretum is a part of the chateau parks, which measure a total of more than 4 hectares of land divided into the upper and lower part (below the road) and the park in the inner chateau grounds. There... tel.: 465618184 Address: č.1, Žampach
	Chateau Choceň - Orlické Museum The Renaissance chateau with ground floor arcade in the courtyard was built in the second half of the 16th century. In 1829 the chateau burned and restorations were conducted in the Classicist style. In... tel.: 465471624 Address: Pardubická 1, Choceň
	Lanškroun Chateau - Municipal Museum The oldest part of the Lanškroun Chateau is the wing adjacent to the Church of St. Wenceslas. This was the eastern wing of the monastery, built by the Augustinians after 1393. The structure was named... tel.: 465324328 Address: nám. A. Jiráska, Zámek 1, Lanškroun
	Fort Orlice The fortress was most likely built at the end of the 13th century. It was rebuilt into a Renaissance chateau in the 16th century. After the nobility moved out of Orlice in 1650 to the chateau in Kyšperec... tel.: 465677720 Address: Orlice 1, Letohrad
	Letohrad chateau On the site of today’s east chateau wing the owner of the domain, Zdeněk Žampach of Potštein, built a simple wooden fortress in 1554; in 1681 this was rebuilt by a subsequent owner into an Early Baroque... tel.: 465620285 Address: Václavské nám. 1, Letohrad
	Kvasiny Chateau Three-winged Classical chateau built in the late 17th century on the site of a former fortress on a promontory above the river Bela. It is surrounded by a ten hectare park with numerous beautiful and rare... tel.: 603161373 Address: č.p. 1, Kvasiny
	New chateau Kostelec nad Orlicí The son of Prince Ferdinand, Count Josef Kinský, had this Empire style chateau built in 1829-1833 as the family residence. A reception room and library were built on the elevated ground floor; the first... tel.: 734709023, 731326423 Address: Komenského 1, Kostelec nad Orlicí
	Doudleby nad Orlicí Chateau The chateau was commissioned by Nicholas the Elder of Bubna. It originally served as a summer residence and was later used as a hunting lodge. What's interesting is that the Bubna family still owns the... tel.: 494383420, 777888083 Address: Zámek 1, Doudleby nad Orlicí
	Častolovice Chateau The history of Častolovice Chateau extends back to the 13th century when a water fortress stood in the valley of the confluence of the Bělá and Kněžna Rivers. This fortress was built on massive wooden... tel.: 494323646, 732832442 Address: Masarykova 1, Častolovice
	Potštejn Chateau Perhaps as early as the first half of the 15th century the owners of the Potštejn domain built an aristocratic estate with a fortress to replace the run-down castle on the hill above the small town; the... tel.: 494546064, 728939028 Address: Jarníkova 1, Potštejn
	New chateau near Lanškroun The chateau was built in the years 1699-1712 by Jan Adam Ondřej of Lichtenstein due to the fact that the smaller chateau in Lanškroun was no longer large enough for his needs. The new chateau had three... tel.: 776642277 Address: Rudoltice 159, Rudoltice
	Litice nad Orlicí Castle Litice Castle was established near the end of the 13th century during the colonization of the sparse settlement at the time of the ancient border forest of northeastern Bohemia, which was royal property... tel.: 465320627, 603232212 Address: Litice nad Orlicí, Žamberk
	Opočno Chateau The Renaissance chateau above the valley of the Golden Stream was built by the Czech noble family Trčkas of Lipa during the second half of the 16th century. The latitude of the concept and substantial... tel.: 494668216 Address: Trčkovo nám. 1, Opočno
	Kolowrat Chateau in Rychnov nad Kněžnou The Early Baroque multi-story chateau was built by Fr. Karel Kolowrat in 1676-1690 (allegedly according to the plan by a northern Italian architect) In 1722 the chateau was lengthened, widened, and raised... tel.: 605267238, 733189099, 494534916 Address: Kolowratská 1, Rychnov nad Kněžnou
	Žamberk Chateau A single-storey and architecturally insignificant building, built around two square courtyards. The building is accompanied by an English park, which gradually transforms into a game preserve. tel.: 465614225 Address: Zámecká 1, Žamberk
	Borohrádek Chateau Empire style chateau, which was built in 1816 - 1820 by reconstructing a lord's Renaissance mansion. After 1945 it was confiscated. In 1957, building restoration was conducted, the ground floor was elevated... Address: Rudé armády 1, Borohrádek
	Černíkovice Chateau The original Renaissance fortress was reconstructed in 1822-1825 by Antonín Libštejnský of Kolovrat into its present form of an Empire style chateau. Until 1945, the chateau served as a summer residence... Address: Černíkovice
	Dolní Libchavy - fortress Address: č.p. 174, Libchavy, Dolní Libchavy
	Kłodzko - fortress Fortress standing on the site of the former 10th century catle, which the Austrian army began transforming into a military building in 1622. Under Prussian rule from 1742. The building was expanded during... tel.: 748673468 Address: Grodzisko 1, Kłodzko
	Old chateau The chateau was built on the site of a former fortress, which was established before 1620. After a fire it was reconstructed into a chateau. In 1777, it burnt down, but it was later rebuilt in Baroque... Address: Tyršova 2, Kostelec nad Orlicí
	Rokytnice v Orlických horách Chateau Early Baroque chateau with a courtyard and pillar arcade built in the 2nd half of the 16th century, originally in Late Renaissance style. In the 2nd half of the 17th century it was rebuilt into it present... tel.: 724002255, 723755355 Address: Náměstí T.G. Masaryka 1, Rokytnice v Orlických horách
	Skalka Chateau Originally the fortified Renaissance residence of the Mladot family of Solopysky from the end of the 16th century, built on the site of a Gothic fortress and reconstructed in 1736-1739 as a Baroque chateau... tel.: 494666220 Address: č.p. 63, Podbřezí
	Tatenice Chateau Late renaissance hunting chateau. Previously a fortress, which was situated on the site of today's eastern wing of the chateau, where extensive barrel vaulted cellars are preserved , was reconstructed... tel.: 465381230 Address: č.p. 86, Tatenice
	Zámrsk Chateau An original fortress, likely from the 15th century, that was burned by the army of Matthias Corvinus in 1469. Reconstructed and expanded into a chateau in the first half of the 17th century. Currently... tel.: 465503101 Address: Zámek 1, Zámrsk
	Brandýs nad Orlicí Chateau A two-storey Neo-Baroque mansard chateau with a turret standing on the southern edge of the city. It is the youngest of the three aristocratic residences in Brandýs nad Orlicí. The building is surrounded... Address: Komenského, Brandýs nad orlicí
	Castle Leśna Skała Neo-Gothic castle built by Leopold von Hochberg in the 19th century. Following his death it was sold and run by several owners. From 1860 it belonged ot the Rohrbach family, who conducted reconstruction... Address: Szczytna
	Chateau Bożków Dominant three-storey chateau with an irregular layout, which was built by Franz von Magnis. The building functioned as a family residence and the administrative centre of its domain. The chateau is completed... Address: Bożków
	Chateau Miedzylesie The complex is formed by a Renaissance court with medieval elements which is interconnected with the Baroque chateau. Work on the court was begun in the 16th century by the von Tschirnhaus brothers, who... tel.: 748126542 Address: plac Wolnosci 42, Międzylesie
	Chateau Trzebieszowice Originally a knight's castle with history reaching as far back as the 15th century. Fragments of stone walls have been preserved to the present in the vaults. In the 16th century, construction began on... tel.: 748652000 Address: Trzebieszowice 151, Trzebieszowice
	Fort Koldín Renaissance chateau apparently built by Jan Hylebrant of Ryzmburk on the site of the old fortress from 1589 with high scutcheons and a facade ornate with graphite. Arcades with crossed vaulted ceilings... Address: Koldín
	V. J. Klofáč Mememorial - monument, fortification complex A memorial is situated in the “Na Valech” fortress, which is a cultural monument composed of House No. 68 (gamekeepers lodge), House No. 93 (Klofáč Villa), ramparts, the moat, cellars, and the arbour.... tel.: 465481294, 604863787 Address: č.p. 68, Dobříkov

Number of searched records: 11

	Lanškroun - town monument zone The historical centre with the most significant landmarks of the city. Address: Lanškroun
	Letohrad - town monument zone Address: Letohrad
	Rokytnice v Orlických horách - town monument zone The homes constitute a classic example of the tradition of wooden folk architecture which is visible throughout the entire region and all over the Eagle Mountains. This involves timbered burgess’ houses... Address: Rokytnice v Orlických horách
	Ústí nad Orlicí - town monument zone tel.: 465514271 Address: Ústí nad Orlicí
	Brandýs nad Orlicí - town monument zone Address: Brandýs nad Orlicí
	Česká Třebová - town monument zone Address: Česká Třebová
	Dobruška - town monument zone Address: Dobruška
	Jablonné nad Orlicí - town monument zone Address: Jablonné nad Orlicí
	Opočno - town monument zone Address: Opočno
	Rychnov nad Kněžnou - town monument zone Address: Rychnov nad Kněžnou
	Žamberk - town monument zone Address: Žamberk

Number of searched records: 18

	Castle Potštejn While only ruins remain today, Potštejn at one time was one of the largest and most important castles in the country. The castle changed owners many times after its founding in the 13th century. Important... tel.: 494546812, 494546810, 603416959 Address: Hrad Potštejn, Potštejn
	Brandýs nad Orlicí - castle ruins The castle was founded prior to the year 1289 by Jindřich of Brandýs and changed owners over the centuries; the last owners were the Žerotíns in the years 1559 to 1636, and afterwards the castle was abandoned... tel.: 737869296 Address: Brandýs nad Orlicí
	Frymburk - castle ruins Castle from the 1st half of the 14th century. During the Thirty Years War it was attacked by rebel dependent and Swedish troops, then it was abandoned and left for ruin. The ground fortifications have... tel.: 725044901, 725044902 Address: Hradní 184 , Nový Hrádek
	Crown of the Virgin Mary Monastery - ruins Only remains of the Gothic single nave church have been preserved from the Augustinian monastery founded in the 13th century (it was abandoned in 1550). Address:
	Hlavačov - fortified settlement The settlement has a trapezoidal plan and is fortified on three sides by an imposing 6 metre deep moat and a rampart that is up to 3 metres high. Residential structures are evident in the northeast corner... Address: Choceň
	Hlodný - castle ruin The Gothic castle was probably built by the lords of Žampach. In the past, it mainly served a defensive role against the raids of marauding gangs. The castle was never completely finished, the only direct... Address:
	Klečkov - castle remains Remains of a medieval castle on a promontory of the Bělá River, likely founded by the Půtov family of Častolovice at the turn of the 15th century. During the Hussite Wars the castle was a base of support... Address: Skuhrov nad Bělou
	Kyšperk - castle ruins and viewing point The terrain is overgrown with vegetation with only a faint hint of the castle foundations. In September of 2008, during the scope of celebrations in honour of the 700th anniversary of the town Letohrad... Address: Letohrad
	Lanšperk - castle ruins and lookout tower The original castle was probably founded by Přemysl Otakar II in the middle of the 13th century during colonization of the area and abandoned at the end of the 16th century. Remains of the cellars and... tel.: 603404423 Address: Dolní Dobrouč
	Pěčín - castle remains Remains of a 13th century castle. The castle was destroyed during the times of the Hussite wars around 1420. Until the present remnants of moats and walls overgrown with greenery are still visible. Address: Pěčín
	Skuhrov nad Bělou - ruins with wood observation tower Skuhrov Castle looms on a rock projection that is inaccessible from three sides; the purpose of the castle was to guard the trade route to Kladsko. From two modest remnants of castle ruins it is possible... Address: Skuhrov nad Bělou
	Velešov Castle ruins Ruins of a Gothic castle built around 1340 and destroyed in the 14th century. Remnants of the walls and trench remain preserved. Address: Potštejn
	Žampach - castle ruins The original castle was built in the 2nd half of the 13th century; during the Thirty Years War it was plundered a number of times and subsequently fell into disrepair. On the sides of the site today are... Address: Žampach
	Chlumek - round fortified settlement The fortress was apparently founded at the end of the 13th or beginning of the 14th century, though the first records from 1544 already list the compound as having been abandoned. Overgrown foundations... Address:
	Dřel - fortress ruins It stood nearby the village of Koldin on the forested hill Chlum already back in 1376, when it and the adjacent village in the foothill were owned by Jaroslav of Koldin. In the 15th century, it was abandoned... Address: Koldín
	Orlík - castle ruins The castle was built at the turn of the 14th century. The foundations of buildings along the perimeter and the widely excavated moat are visible. Address: Brandýs nad Orlicí
	Vranov - fortified settlement The remains of a small medieval castle that was destroyed by the army of Margrave Charles (later to become King Charles IV) during a military campaign to Potštejn in 1338. The lone remain is a shallow... Address: Choceň
	Zítkov - ruins The castle founded by Charles IV. or the Lords of Lichtemberk replacing the castle in Choceň, destroyed by the campaign of Margrave Charles against the robber Nicholas. Address: Choceň