Velké Březno Old Castle, Castle in Czechia

The Old Castle in Velké Březno is a single-storey building with a rectangular plan and a mansard roof, from which dormers and a small tower with an onion dome rise. Its ground-floor rooms are vaulted with barrel vaults with lunettes. It stands on the right bank of the Elbe in the village of Velké Březno.

The oldest residence in the village was a fortress built by the Vartenberks in the second half of the 15th century, first indirectly mentioned in 1472–1486. In 1528 the Salhausens acquired the estate and rebuilt the fortress as a Renaissance château. Through Sofie Anežka Ditrichštejnová it passed to the Harrachs and from 1841 to the Choteks; Count Karel Chotek added another floor. Since the 20th century it has housed a retirement home.

The Old Castle has served as a retirement home since the 20th century, so its rooms are in institutional use rather than open to visitors. The village name Březno is linked to birch trees, and the castle stands on the right bank of the Labe opposite the newer château built for Count Karel Chotek from 1842.

The castle is not open to the public as it currently serves as a nursing home. The south facade is visible from the street and provides a clear view of its historic architecture.

The Vartenberk fortress that preceded the castle is first indirectly recorded in 1472–1486, in the predicate of Jiří of Vartenberk on Březno. The Salhausens rebuilt it as a Renaissance château after acquiring the estate in 1528.