Castle in Brandýs nad Labem, Renaissance château in Brandýs nad Labem, Czech Republic

The castle in Brandýs nad Labem stands on a raised terrace above the left bank of the Labe. Its Gothic core, including the northern palace and the paired towers on the east side, was rebuilt in the Renaissance under Matteo Borgorelli and Ettore Vaccani, with sgraffito covering the walls. South and east wings were added later, and the grounds include an Italian-style garden with a summer house, ball court and balustrade.

A ford on the Prague-to-north land route was first guarded by a watchpost and later a fortress, which Jan Tovačovský z Cimburka rebuilt as a castle in 1468–1493. The Krajíř family began its Renaissance conversion under Matteo Borgorelli and Ettore Vaccani, and the royal chamber continued it in 1547–1572. Habsburg owners, notably Rudolf II, gave it its present form; it was Baroque and Neo-Gothic modified from 1732.

Since 2002 the castle hosts the annual Audience with Emperor Charles I in late April, honouring the blessed last Czech king. Guests include historians, diplomats, army and church representatives, Czech and European nobility, and members of the Habsburg-Lorraine family. In 2013 the event marked the 200th anniversary of the meeting of the three monarchs here.

The castle stands on a raised terrace on the left bank of the Labe, entered from the courtyard; the northern palace and the paired towers on the east side are of Gothic origin, while the south and east wings were added in the Renaissance. The garden, once watered by a wooden conduit ending in a stone dolphin's head, lies beyond the Rudolfína covered walkway on pillars.

In 1813 the castle hosted a meeting of three monarchs: Emperor Francis I of Austria, King Frederick William III of Prussia and Tsar Alexander I of Russia, who coordinated the campaign against Napoleon. A 2006 relief sculpture of Rudolf II's favourite in a niche of the courtyard wall recalls the emperor's stays.