Duchcov Chateau

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Description

Duchcov is a château located about 8 km from Litvínov, in northern Bohemia, Czech Republic. The chateau houses a museum with a collection of historic furniture. Also on display is the painting and portrait gallery of the Waldsteins, including portraits of the most famous member of this family, Albrecht von Wallenstein, Duke of Friedland by Anthony van Dyck. One room is dedicated to Giacomo Casanova, who was here employed as a librarian from 1785 to 1798, and his memoirs Histoire de ma vie written here in 1798.

History

The castle was founded as a fort in the 13th century by the Hrabišic family, which resided at the Osek Castle. Not earlier than 1527, the Lobkowicz family replaced the fort with a one-wing Renaissance palace. Marie Polyxena of Thalmberg the widow of František Josef of Lobkowicz, married secondly Maximillian, Count of Waldstein in 1642. Their son Jan Bedřich, Count of Waldstein, later the Archbishop of Prague, was apprised with the French architect and painter Jean Baptiste Mathey, and brought him to Duchcov for the purpose of rebuilding the palace. The Castle was incorporated in the Waldstein's family fideicomis and passed on through inheritance to Ernst Joseph Count Waldstein and to his descendants until it was nationalised in 1945.

Mathey designed a huge Baroque complex, including a large park and a hospital. The decoration of the building was provided by the best baroque artists in Bohemia like the sculptors Matyáš Bernard Braun, Ferdinand Maxmilián Brokoff, and painter Václav Vavřinec Reiner. Between 1785 and 1798, Giacomo Casanova, the so-called secretary of the 18th century, spent the last thirteen years of his amazing life in Duchcov.

In the 19th century the palace was rebuilt in the classicist style and the garden in the romantic style. The Waldstein family left the place in 1921. At present the chateau is state-owned and open to visitors.

Street view

Reviews

28.08.2021 Violetta
A pleasant weekend trip, interesting is the familiarity with the place, where he lived the last 13 years of his life. At the conclusion of the tour is a pleasant surprise!
28.08.2021 Jan
Lock badly in need of renovation. At least from the outside. The inside is rich in exhibits, but the exterior impression it spoils the. We were in night at the château Casanova is getting married and it was totally bizarre. First the music and dance performances with an elderly singer and dancer, who better played on the piano than dancing. To them tried the art špekaté dancer with one solid ballerina. Eventually we passed the still "living" rounds of the castle, where we knew virtually no facts. One star is for the actor, which during the tour he played Casanova and the other is for the equipment lock.
28.08.2021 Jakub
Very nice castle, which beneath the deceptive exterior, and is definitely worth a visit. How is but written in other reviews, the restoration of the castle is very expensive to the National Institute unfortunately, even for the necessary support of the Ministry and the county can't suddenly fix the whole lock. The tour was very nice and with an interesting interpretation of the guide and interesting. At the end of the tour waiting for you a little surprise. Just look to the second door.
28.08.2021 Bernhard
An unforgettable experience! We have made a Casanova. The story of the tourist guide was very interesting, he spoke Czech, we have to get a folder containing the German Text, but English he could, and the conversation with him was very interesting, he answered all of our questions. The castle rooms are not very well maintained, a pity that almost no advertising is done without the Navi would be easy to find that castle. Definitely worth seeing, we recommend the Museum to all Baroque lovers!
28.08.2021 Jan
The wizard knows what he's talking about. On the first sightseeing tour of the circuit is a beautiful exhibition of paintings. As a minus I a short time the tour itself-I suggest to merge the two circuits and not to select admission separately. Otherwise satisfaction.
28.08.2021 Violetta
A pleasant weekend trip, interesting is the familiarity with the place, where he lived Casanova, the last 13 years of his life. At the conclusion of the tour is a pleasant surprise!
28.08.2021 Sergey
Very beautiful house and very Casanova, everywhere clean, and most importantly have into to watch！
28.08.2021 Jaroslav
Building the castle is in pretty deplorable condition, the interior is quite passable. Guides passable, sufficient assortment of souvenirs, TOILETS free and clean. Admission fee reasonable, the circuits long enough. Circle of Wallenstein is dedicated to image collections and for a layman pretty boring. Circle of Casanova dedicated to the history of the castle with displays of weapons, ceramics/porcelain and the number one inhabitants was richer and more interesting. Sidewalks in the vicinity of the castle are in very poor condition.
28.08.2021 Mikhail
You are not allowed to visit the Museum independently., but must be part of the leadership on the Czech. The texts were in both German and in Russian, we got pressed in the Hand, badly translated and not the content of the guide adapted to. The castle itself is also in a desolate condition.
28.08.2021 Lucie
Wonderful lock, that maybe the visitor will confuse your exterior, but inside lies a magnificent spaces. The tour is divided into two circuits and both are very interesting. A visitor can peer into the space in which he lived Casanova, on a lot of historical objects from the property of Wallenstein, and viewed a large amount of wonderful images. The tour guides were very nice, pleasant and funny and a tour of the spice up other interesting stories. The castle stands in the middle of town and directly in front of the castle there is free parking. In the vicinity is also located a lot of other castles, ruins and natural sights and a visit to the castle definitely recommend.
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