Veselí Castle, Medieval château in Veselí, Czech Republic

Veselí Castle stands on the site of an older fortress in Veselí near Klatovy. Fridrich Stadion-Thannhausen had the fortress rebuilt as a château between 1863 and 1885, with the Klatovy builder Josef Mayer apparently taking inspiration from nearby Bezděkov Castle. The building is protected as a cultural monument and is listed among endangered monuments.

Veselí is first recorded in 1379, when it was held by Stach; a fortress stood on the site and lost its importance for the Bystřice estate at the end of the 18th century, being left to decay. From 1863 to 1885 the owner Fridrich Stadion-Thannhausen had it rebuilt as a château by the Klatovy builder Josef Mayer, apparently inspired by nearby Bezděkov Castle. In 1885 Bedřich Matzenauer bought the estate; after 1948 it became state property.

The association Tvrz Veselí, founded in 2014, leases the castle from its Berlin owner for one koruna a year and intends to use it for cultural, social and educational activities. It has opened a public collection for the repairs and has already had the flat roof over one wing and the tower roof repaired.

The castle is privately owned and closed to the public; the Tvrz Veselí association has held a 30-year lease on the premises for one koruna a year since 2014. Visits depend on the progress of repairs, so arrange access with the association in advance. The flat roof over one wing and the tower roof have already been repaired.

The castle's last private owner before the state took it in 1948 was Bedřich Matzenauer, who bought it in 1885; his descendants lost it when the Nazis confiscated it during World War II because of their Jewish origin. The building later held offices of state farms such as Státní statek Luby and was converted into flats.