Doudleby nad Orlicí (chateau)

In the Middle Ages, a medieval fortress used to stand on the site of the present chateau, and since the end of the 16th century a hunting lodge has been built, built in the Renaissance style by Mikuláš of Bubno. The style of this relatively small, but very picturesque castle was given by Italian architects and builders, under whose leadership this monument was created. The model of the local castle is therefore purely Italian. Around 1630, the castle was renovated in the spirit of the late Renaissance and equipped with a courtyard arcade with Tuscan columns.

In the period from 1670 to 1690, in the years when the Doudleby estate was owned by František Adam Bubna-Litic, the original building underwent an early Baroque reconstruction, which included, for example, the construction of a shingle roof with a turret, a new entrance portal and overcoating of sgraffito. It was at this time that farm buildings were also built here, which have been preserved to this day. At the beginning of the 19th century, an English park was built around the chateau.

The Bubna-Litic family owned the chateau in Doudleby nad Orlicí until 1949, when it became state property. The original Renaissance sgraffito was discovered during reconstruction and restoration work in 1960. After their completion in 1971, the Doudleby nad Orlicí chateau was opened to the public.

The current appearance of the castle has a square floor plan, the castle has one floor and tower-like projections, protruding from the center of the garden and entrance facade. On the floor of the southern portal today you will find a chapel and the facades are decorated with animal and plant motifs.

In the castle interiors, it is currently possible to see tapestries, historic furniture, portraits, paintings or sewn lace not only from the Czech Republic, but also from Belgium or France. The four rooms of the chateau are dedicated to an exhibition of toiletries, mapping the period from the 16th to the 20th century, and there is also an exhibition of European tapestries from the 16th to the 18th century. In addition, for a total of four centuries, there has been an exhibition focusing on hunting and hunting, and since 1997 also hunting and sporting weapons, originating from Česká zbrojovka in Uherský Brod.

Author: Andrea Štyndlová