Poběžovice Chateau

The foundation of the chateau was laid by Dobrohost of Ronšperk after he acquired the Poběžovice estate in 1459, and from the original fortress, a noble residence gradually grew, changing its appearance with each new owner. Renaissance elements were imparted to it by the Brothers of Švamberk in the mid-sixteenth century, while it received its current Baroque appearance at the end of the seventeenth century under Matyáš Bohumír of Vunšice. The longest chapter was written by the Coudenhove-Kalergi family, who owned the chateau from 1864 until the end of the Second World War – Richard Coudenhove-Kalergi, one of the fathers of the idea of European integration, also belonged to this family. After 1945, the building was nationalized, served the border guard, and gradually fell into disrepair. The town of Poběžovice had it repaired in recent years – the roof trusses, fortifications, staircases, and Baroque sculptural decoration were restored – and from the summer of 2024, the chateau, with its ten buildings, Baroque fountain, and park, is accessible to the public for tours. In 2024, it was also declared a national cultural monument.