Lysá nad Labem Castle

Lysá nad Labem Castle is a Renaissance complex along the Elbe River featuring elaborate sgraffito decorations that cover the exterior walls of its buildings. The grounds encompass extensive gardens with historical sculptures and preserve the original Renaissance-era layouts throughout the property.

During the 16th century, Emperor Ferdinand I transformed the original medieval structure into a grand Renaissance residence. This redesign was part of the imperial building campaigns intended to showcase power and prosperity through such palatial constructions.

The castle displays Renaissance architectural features shaped by local craftsmen who worked to reflect the artistic tastes of its inhabitants. Visitors can still see the elaborate decorations on the facades today, showing how skill and wealth were once displayed through the building itself.

The grounds are open to visitors year-round and offer about 21 hectares of gardens and paths to explore at leisure. Comfortable shoes are recommended since the walking routes across the property can be quite lengthy.

The sgraffito technique employs multiple layers of colored plaster that are exposed with fine tools to create complex patterns. This craft method was favored in Central Europe but demands great skill and proves difficult to restore properly.