Zámek Nelahozeves

About the museum

The château at Nelahozeves was built by the nobleman Florian Griespek of Griesbach, personal secretary and adviser to Emperor Ferdinand I. Building the representative residence in the North Italian castello style took more than sixty years and was completed in 1614. Italian craftsmen from the circle of Prague Castle worked on the decoration, and the royal builder Bonifác Wohlmut is believed to have supervised the construction for some time.

In 1623 the Griespek family ran into financial difficulties and had to sell the indebted estate to Polyxena of Lobkowicz. During the Thirty Years' War the château was plundered several times, after which Václav Eusebius of Lobkowicz carried out extensive repairs. Since then the château has been more an administrative centre of the large estate than the main residence of the family. Its characteristic features include the corner bastions, the stone bridge over the moat, the sgraffito on the north wing, the Arcade Hall and the Knights' Hall with its wall paintings of warriors.

At the end of the 19th century Vilemína of Lobkowicz established a pension for noblewomen here, and in 1948 the château was confiscated. In the 1970s and 1980s it housed the Středočeská galerie (Central Bohemian Gallery). After restitution in 1993 the château was returned to the Lobkowicz family; in 1997–2007 it housed a permanent exhibition on European art patronage, and since 2008 visitors have been able to see the installation Pohled do šlechtického interiéru, which shows the lifestyle of a noble family in Bohemia in the 19th century.

Highlights

• The exhibition Pohled do šlechtického interiéru in twelve period-furnished salons
• Works by masters such as Veronese, Brueghel, Rubens, Cranach or Panini
• Sgraffito on the north wing and the Renaissance Knights' Hall
• Tour with an audio guide narrated by the Lobkowicz family, and the children's trail Po stopách ztraceného pokladu
• Tour Tajemství sklepa a půdy outside the usual route

Permanent exhibition

• Pohled do šlechtického interiéru – The installation in twelve period-furnished salons, inspired by the era of Prince Ferdinand Zdeněk of Lobkowicz, shows the life of a noble family in Bohemia at the end of the 19th century. It includes works by Old Masters, furniture, hunting trophies and a collection of weapons.

Operated by

Lobkowicz Collections o.p.s.

Admission & discounts

Members of the friends' club of the Lobkowicz collections enter all House of Lobkowicz monument sites free of charge. Tickets can be bought online.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: not available
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Movement around the château is possible for people with reduced mobility, with a few exceptions. Between the first and second floors the exhibition requires a stairlift, which must be arranged with the château in advance. A wheelchair is available for loan for those who walk with difficulty. Toilets, including accessible ones, are on the ground floor. Dogs are not allowed inside, except assistance dogs.

Kids & families

Great for kids & familiesRecommended for ages 4+

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Baby changing facilities
• Playground / play area

The children's tours Objevování Lobkowiczkých sbírek are suitable from age 4 and take place every Saturday from 14:30 (about 90 minutes, including a workshop and a workbook). The children's trail Po stopách ztraceného pokladu is for children from age 8. There is a baby changing table by the toilets near the château shop, and a children's playground on the site.

Getting there & parking

The château is 35 km from Prague. The Vltava and Labe cycle routes and EuroVelo 7 pass nearby; bicycles can be left on the grounds and e-bikes charged.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

The outdoor bistro Skála serves food, drinks and ice cream; nearby are the restaurants Marina Vltava and Vinopalna. The souvenir shop has a children's corner with art activities.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events
• Weddings / ceremonies

The château rents out spaces for private, corporate and cultural events, weddings and filming, including catering.

Plan your visit