Humprecht (chateau)

The chateau was built by the Italian architect Carlo Lurage in the years 1666-1668 for Count Humprecht Jan Černín of Chudenice. It is located on a basalt hill near the town of Sobotka. The oval tower is carried in the style of Mannerism, with elements of the late Renaissance and early Baroque. In 1678 the castle was engulfed in fire and subsequently, during its reconstruction, the second floor was added. However, this overloaded the foundations and had to be reinforced with sandstone blocks. A golden crescent was placed on top of the tower in 1829. From 1738 the chateau was owned by the Netolický family from Eisenberk, and since then it has fallen into disrepair. It was not until 1926 that the town of Sobotka acquired it together with the branch and began reconstruction. In 2008, it was declared a National Cultural Monument.

The castle has 27 rooms and in the middle of the building is a 16 m high banquet hall with excellent acoustics, where concerts or weddings are often held.

The surrounding slopes are covered by a forest park, where there are many rare species of plants. There used to be a game park with deer and fallow deer, but after the death of Count Humprecht it disappeared together with extensive stables and a house for a gardener. Only the pheasant house remained. Visitors now have 5 km of trails and in the immediate vicinity of the forest park can use the swimming pool and climbing wall.

According to legend, there is a treasure in the forest park in the well, guarded by a white snake with a golden crown. Once a year, he entrusts part of the treasure to a pilgrim who drinks from a well. The snake is the soul of a child whom the desperate chateau lady threw into the well together with the treasure. Come for a drink, maybe you'll be lucky…

Author: Marie Bukovinská