Police Castle, Renaissance château in Police, Czech Republic

Police Castle is a structure of stone and brick that features Renaissance design elements and rises distinctly within the town. The building comprises several sections that reveal how architecture and function changed over the centuries.

A fortress was first recorded on this site in 1371, held by Smil of Police; the Bačkovice family enlarged it between 1444 and 1520. In 1534 Jan of Tavíkovice rebuilt it as a Renaissance château with partly late Gothic features, and a park was laid out beside it. The Berchtolds owned it from 1633 to 1821 and had Baldassare Fontana decorate several rooms in 1702–1705.

The castle houses a RAF museum opened in 2017, a museum of historic motorcycles and a museum devoted to singer Waldemar Matuška. Part of the building serves as the European Military Centre of air marshal and army general Karel Janoušek. The town of Police, which owns the castle, has sought National Cultural Monument status since a first proposal in 2012.

Access to the building requires caution since ongoing restoration work limits visitor access. Plan your visit with realistic expectations about accessibility and explore the exterior when interior areas are not open.

The castle houses a Royal Air Force museum opened in 2017, named after Air Marshal and Army General Karel Janoušek, a native of the region; part of the building serves as the European Military Centre bearing his name. The grounds also hold a museum of historic motorcycles and a museum devoted to Waldemar Matuška.