Světlá nad Sázavou Castle, Renaissance Revival château in Světlá nad Sázavou, Czech Republic.
Světlá nad Sázavou Castle is a Renaissance Revival structure featuring four wings arranged around a central enclosed courtyard. A winter garden with a decorative cave and pond occupies the northern section of the main building.
The structure began as a Gothic fortress built in 1393 by Štěpán of Šternberk along the Sázava River. It underwent major transformation in 1817 under Count František Josef Zichy, when it acquired its Renaissance Revival appearance.
The Knight's Hall displays ornate plasterwork in the Empire style, reflecting the refined tastes of the 19th-century inhabitants. Walking through these rooms shows how the castle residents expressed their social status through interior design choices.
The castle opened for public visits in June 2014 and sits within an English-style park containing multiple ponds and gazebos throughout the grounds. Visitors can walk the estates at their own pace, moving between the main building and garden features across the surrounding landscaped areas.
A Latin inscription from 1567 remains carved above the portal on the south side of the building, marking when Burian Trčka owned the property. Most visitors overlook this detail, which offers a tangible link to the castle's earlier centuries without requiring any additional information.
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