At the castle near the village of Loučeň, many owners have taken turns, but among the most significant are three noble families – the Waldsteins, Fürstenbergs, and Thurn und Taxis. The atmosphere of richly decorated interiors, furnished with original furniture, will take you back in time – to the era when members of the last-mentioned family lived here. A major attraction is also the park with garden mazes and labyrinths.
In the Middle Ages and early modern period, Loučeň saw a succession of less prominent owners, mostly from the lower nobility. A major turning point in the estate's history came after the Bohemian Estates’ Revolt, when the noble Waldstein family became the new owners. From that point on, the château was never sold, even though two more families – the Fürstenbergs and Thurn und Taxis – later resided there. However, these changes occurred through marriage alliances. The château’s current form is the work of the famous Baroque architect František Maxmilián Kaňka.
In 1809, the Thurn und Taxis family became the lords of Loučeň. They had amassed wealth by operating postal services, over which they held an almost complete monopoly in all of Italy and Central and Western Europe. Under their management, the original château park – once laid out in the style of French Baroque gardens – was transformed into an English-style landscape park. One of the most notable owners was Alexander Thurn und Taxis, a lover of hunting, horse racing, and travel. His wife, Marie von Hohenlohe, was passionate about art, painted beautifully, and regularly invited famous cultural figures to the château. A family friend, for example, was the composer Bedřich Smetana, who spent the last nine years of his life at Loučeň.
After the communist coup, the château was seized by the Ministry of Transport and used as a recreational and educational center. Since 2000, the château has been owned by the Loučeň joint-stock company, thanks to which the château was renovated, refurnished, and opened to the public along with its park. The current state of the château’s interiors and exhibitions reflects their appearance around the year 1935 – on display is the original furniture, supplemented by historical pieces and everyday items used by members of the Thurn und Taxis family. Guests can also enjoy accommodation directly in the château’s suites or in the adjacent four-star Maxmilian Lifestyle Resort.
Interesting fact
In the château park, you will find the Labyrintharium – a collection of 12 garden labyrinths and mazes, unlike anything else in the world. Finding your way through the yew maze, palisade maze, or light labyrinth is an experience that delights not only children but adults as well.
