Žamberk Castle, Renaissance château in Žamberk, Czech Republic
Žamberk Castle is a Renaissance château built before 1600 for Mikuláš Bubna of Litice, with Baroque and later modifications. It is a one-storey building with a low hipped roof, enclosing the second and third courtyards; its northeast corner holds a chapel spanning both floors. The portals bear the coats of arms of the Bubna, Wiedersperg and Parish families, and a large English park extends to the southeast.
Nikolaus von Bubna und Lititz, who held half of Senftenberg, acquired the other half in 1575 and built a Renaissance castle there before 1600. Baroque alterations followed between 1653 and 1711, including the castle chapel of the Assumption in 1691. After an Empire-style conversion around 1810–1814, the Parish family owned the castle until expropriation after World War II; they regained it after 1989 and sold it to the Pardubice Region in 2004.
The castle has housed a secondary school since the Pardubice Region bought it in 2004. The Bubna, Windischgrätz and Parish families each left their coats of arms on the courtyard portals, and the Parish arms also appear above the park gate.
The castle stands in the southeast part of Žamberk, with three courtyards and an English park that continues into a game reserve. Since 2004 the building has belonged to the Pardubice Region and serves educational purposes, so access to the interiors depends on the school's schedule. The sculpted portals of the second courtyard, including the Art Nouveau entrance by František Rous, can be seen from the courtyards.
Within the castle stands the Chapel of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, an important spiritual space that reflects the religious life of its former residents. The adjoining park was created at a later time and offers a softer counterpoint to the formal architectural lines of the main building.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 92,242 contributors worldwide.