The Hrádek u Nechanic Château

Hrádek u Nechanic Château, a little piece of England in Bohemia, is located about 10 kilometres from Hradec Králové. It was built as a representative and summer residence of the Harrach family between 1839 and 1857 by František Arnošt, Count of Harrach, an important representative of the Jilemnice family line. A project drawn up by English architect Edward Buckton Lamb in the Tudor Gothic style served as a model for the romantic château. In 1945 the château was confiscated under the Beneš decrees, and since 1953 it has been open to the public. In 2001 it was declared a National Cultural Monument and today it is administered by the National Heritage Institute, a contributory organisation established by the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic. The current château exhibition is an example of the nobility living in the second half of the 19th century in the original historical furnishings (representative rooms, the Count and Countess’ suite, the picture gallery, guest rooms, the château chapel). It can be visited in five tours, including one for children, guided by the Countess or the young Countess. An integral part of the romantic château estate is the nature and landscape park, which was founded in 1844 and today has an area of approximately 18 hectares.