Dobříš Castle, Rococo château in Dobříš, Czech Republic.
Dobříš Castle is a three-winged Rococo château with peach-orange walls and white pilasters, built in 1745–1765 on the site of a burnt-out castle. Its central section rises to a dark grey hipped roof with a triangular pediment and circular window, flanked by matching wings with dormer windows. A French garden and an English landscape park adjoin the south and east sides.
The Colloredo-Mansfeld family acquired this property through marriage in 1771 and maintained ownership until 1942, when Nazi Germany seized it during World War II. The building was later restored and repurposed after the conflict ended.
The castle served as a residence for writers during the socialist period, with numerous Czech and international authors living and working here between 1945 and 1998. Many used this residence as a creative retreat away from urban life.
The château and its French and English parks are open to the public. The French garden is laid out on five terraced levels linked by staircases, so expect steps between the fountain and the orangery. The former stables are used for weddings and the Mirror Hall for concerts.
The French garden is laid out on five terraced levels. On the second, a double staircase carries allegorical putti representing the seasons, crafts, and a pilgrim to Compostela; two mirror-image Platzer groups of the abduction of Persephone stand nearby.
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