Doudleby Castle, Renaissance château in Doudleby nad Orlicí, Czech Republic

Doudleby Castle is a château in Doudleby nad Orlicí featuring Renaissance elements combined with Baroque architectural details on its exterior and interior. Inside, visitors find a Mirror Hall, a chapel, ornate ceiling paintings, and an early Baroque stove among its main rooms.

Mikuláš z Bubna bought Doudleby in 1562 and had a simple hunting and summer residence built by north Italian masters in 1588–1590 on the site of an earlier fortress first mentioned in 1545. Around 1630 Jindřich Jan z Bubna added the courtyard arcades and entrance portal; František Adam z Bubna made further changes in 1670–1690, and the chapel was built in 1700.

The Bubna family owned the castle from 1562 until nationalization in 1948, except under the communist regime, and it was returned to descendants in restitution. The name Doudleby nad Orlicí ties the estate to the village on the Orlice river. Films shot here include Bathory (2008) and Krakonošovo tajemství (2022).

Visitors need to arrange guided tours to explore the interior rooms and museum collections, as the castle is not open for self-guided visits. It is helpful to check local information beforehand about tour availability to plan your visit properly.

In the 1950s a demolition order was issued for the castle, but during the inspection the commission found the original sgraffito decoration preserved under newer plaster and reversed its decision. The estate was returned in restitution to Adam Bubna-Litic and Eleonora Dujková; it now belongs to her granddaughter Barbora Tomášková.