Hořovice Castle is a castle located in the town of Hořovice, Bohemia, Czech Republic.
It was built in two parts. In the first half of the 19th century by Friedrich Wilhelm I of Hesse, following plans of the architect G. Engelhardt, a major rebuilding took place, adding another story to the building.
Its final appearance is due to more refurbishings at the beginning of the 20th century, with the furniture of the rooms being carried out in late classicist style.

Hořovice Castle

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The castle was built in the second half of the 13th century by Oldřich Zajíc III, but the Zajíc family soon moved elsewhere and sold the castle to the king. In 1336, the house of Luxembourg acquired Žebrák and in 1346, Jindřich of the Luxembourg house started renovating it. He later gave the castle to Karel IV, who became the Holy Roman Emperor shortly afterwards. Karel's son Václav IV liked the castle very much, but after the large fire in 1395, he built a more strategically positioned castle above it. During the Hussite wars, the Hussite army unsuccessfully besieged Žebrák and Točník and then proceeded to burn down the towns Točník and Hořovice. In 1532, another fire struck the castle, but this time, nobody bothered renovating it. In the year 1923, the castle was sold to the Czech Association of Tourists for 8000 crowns and now it belongs to the state.

Žebrák Castle

The area where the castle stands was inhabited by people two thousand years ago, but it was not until the 14th century when the Bohemian and German king Wenceslaus IV decided to build his residence there. The castle Točník was built after the large fire in the castle Žebrák, which showed how unsafe it was for the king and how its position was not strategic.
The castle was built on a three-part ground plan. Behind the defensive wall is a massive moat with a bridge, which was originally protected by a gate tower. The most important building, situated in the residential section on the L-shaped ground plan, is the Royal Palace with its side wing. The second floor of the palace was taken up with a ceremonial hall, while other floors were residential.
During the Hussite wars, when Václav's brother Sigismund was in power, the castle was besieged by the Hussite army for three days, until it gave up and burnt down the towns Točník and Hořovice instead. The castle was then mortgaged and handed over from one person to another, but it never found an owner that would keep it for a longer time and so it was gradually reduced to ruins. Jan of Watemberg initiated the first stage of the Renaissance alterations, which were continued by the Lobkowicz family. In 1594, the castle came once again to the royal property and was administrated by the Bohemian (Czech) Royal Chamber. The Thirty Years' War contributed greatly to the castle's deterioration. In the year 1923, the castle was sold to the Czech Association of Tourists for 2000 Czechoslovak crowns and now it belongs to the state. Since the 1930s the gradual restoration works continue until to this day.

Točník Castle

The name is probably derived from two German words: Wald (the forest) and Eck (a widespread part of places' names, meaning rock formation).
The castle was built around the middle of the 13th century (first written mention comes from the year 1263) by an aristocratic family called Buzic. In 1623 it was described as abandoned. Passing centuries left only ruins, dominated by a still standing large round tower (bergfrit), built during the second half of the 13th century.
Several old myths and legends are associated with the ruins.

Valdek Castle

From the vague outlines of its inception, the Romanesque-Gothic castle Zbiroh emerges at the end of the 12th century as the oldest Czech aristocratic residence in Czech. The original part of the castle still dominates the oldest freestanding watchtower on our territory, hidden there is the deepest well in Europe and as a pearl of the castle part is here one of the oldest chapels in the country. Todays form of grandeurs renaissance chateau Zbiroh gains at the very end of the 16th century, in the possession of Emperor Rudolf II. Habsburg.
Chateau and its scenic surroundings were in the past popular in the community of many prominent personalities. One of the most remarkable ones is undoubtedly Alfons Mucha, who lived at the castle for nearly 20 years and created here the entire Slav Epic.
http://zbiroh.com/

Zbiroh Chateau

The first mention of the fortress Suchomasty is from 1473. The chateau built on the site of a former fortress was probably built by Count Václav from Bubna in the first half of 18th century.
The castle is surrounded by an English castle park, founded in the 1st half 19th century. In 1918 the castle was reconstructed. After the occupation of Czechoslovakia by the German army in 1939, the castle passed to the German administration. After the war the chateau was confiscated and served as a retirement home for older members of the Unity of Czech Brethren.
The castle is now used by the Institute for mentally handicapped children.
http://waymarking.com/

Suchomasty Chateau

This late-baroque castle with neo-renaissance adaptations from 19th century has been used as vocational training grounds until 1989. After it was returned to its original owners the castle underwent necessary reconstruction and was opened to public.
https://czecot.com/

Hluboš Chateau

Four-wing Renaissance chateau with a courtyard, commissioned by the Lobkovic family on the site of a former royal stone court. In the second half of the 18th century, it was most probably rebuilt by K. I. Dientzenhofer from the Baroque style to its present day form.
https://czecot.com/

Králův Dvůr Chateau

The first mention of the fortress in Liteň facility can be found in the early 15th century, which mentions two fortresses - Mladotovská, which has not survived, and Vladeck fortress, which was just in the second half of the 17th century into a baroque castle. Over time, the estate became one of the most successful in the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
During the 2nd World War, the castle area was under German rule after its completion later in the hands of the Red Army. In 1948, the entire area along with adjoining land was nationalized and subsequently used as a state farm and construction school. After the fall of communism he was restituted in very bad condition Daubkových family.
http://zameklitenresort.cz/

Liteň Chateau

This originally medieval royal hunting castle was rebuilt into a Baroque chateau in the 17th century. After its reconstruction it became the seat of the Celtic Culture Information Centre, which offers an interesting multimedia projection on the life of the Celts.
In the nearby village of Stradonice is the most famous oppidum in the Czech Republic. It dates back to the 2nd century B.C.  and was built on Hradiště Hill.
http://mesto-beroun.cz/

Nižbor Chateau

This rococo chateau with its distinguished facade captures the attention of every single person arriving from Prague to Dobříš. The current look of the chateau dates back to 1745-1765 when it was rebuilt by Henry Pavel Mansfeld. His daughter Isabella was married to Francis Gundakar Colloredo. This union gave rise to the House of Colloredo-Mansfeld who owned the chateau until 1942 when it was expropriated by the German Reich. In 1945 the chateau was confiscated by the Czechoslovak State and used as the Writers' House. The current owner of the chateau is Dipl. Ing. Jerome Colloredo-Mansfeld from Austria.
http://zamekdobris.cz/