Lnáře

Lnáře Château — The old castle was the seat of the squires of Lnáře, of whom Oldřich accompanied John of Luxembourg to Italy in 1313. The estate passed to the Zmrzlíks of Svojšín. The last of the Zmrzlíks, Václav, however left large debts on his estate. After the Zmrzlíks, Lnáře was acquired by the Šternberks, who were unable to clear the Zmrzlík debt, and the estate then passed to the Kolovrats, who developed fishpond farming (notably Wolf Novohradský of Kolovrat). The Vratislava family of Mitrovic followed. Aleš Vratislav of Mitrovic was elevated to the rank of count in recognition of his services to the state, and finding the Lnáře stronghold 'cramped', he decided to build a baroque château. Construction was probably begun in 1666 (opinions differ; other dates ±5 years are also cited). He did not, however, complete the building. Humprecht Jan Černín of Chudenice continued it — also without completing it. It was only his son Tomáš Zach who succeeded in doing so, in 1684 (1685). He also founded here, beside the Church of the Most Holy Trinity, a monastery of the Discalced Augustinians. The New Château, standing beside the original stronghold, is two-storeyed, early baroque with four wings and a prismatic tower. From the road a stone bridge with six statues of saints leads to the château across a masonry moat. The statues of saints on the bridge date from the first half of the 18th century; the author is unknown. In the château moat are eleven statues of ancient gods from the Platzer workshop. The fountain with Neptune in the courtyard is by the Italian sculptor Francesco Caratti. In the front wing of the New Château is a reception hall with rich stucco and painted decoration from approximately 1680–1684. In the nave of the château chapel are frescoes from the life of Joseph the patriarch, son of Jacob and Rachel, by J. Hofmann from 1721. The presbytery of the chapel is decorated with frescoes from the life of St. Joseph — the foster father of the Lord — by an unknown painter. The château lies on the main road E-49 from Plzeň to České Budějovice — the former demarcation line. It is therefore no coincidence that in May 1945 three liberating armies met at Lnáře: the American, the Red Army and the army of General Vlasov. American soldiers were billeted at the château, and General Vlasov also spent the night there. An extensive reconstruction was completed by the Czech government in 1985. In 1993 the château was returned in restitution to the descendants of the last owner, JUDr. Jindřich A. Vaníček, and in 1999 — exactly 333 years after its founding — it was opened to the public for the first time.

The Lnáře Stronghold — The former Lnáře stronghold, today overshadowed by the neighbouring château, was timber-built in the 13th century, stone Gothic in the 14th century, and in 1597 was converted into a Renaissance manor house. Above the carriageway, alongside the date 1597, are two alliance coats of arms: of Wolf Novohradský of Kolovrat and his wife Judita of Šternberk. In the 19th century the manor house was adapted into a brewery. Production of Lnáře beer was discontinued in 1930. During the reconstruction of 1972–1985 the brewery part of the stronghold was demolished and converted into a car park. In the front wing of the New Château is a reception hall with rich stucco and painted decoration from approximately 1680–1684. In the nave of the château chapel are frescoes from the life of Joseph the patriarch by J. Hofmann from 1721. The presbytery is decorated with frescoes from the life of St. Joseph by an unknown painter.

The English Park — Around the château is an English park, which during the reconstruction of 1972–1985 was converted predominantly into a French-style garden. By its wall is a pavilion in the form of a minaret.

The Monastery — On the eastern edge of the town stands the former monastery of the Discalced Augustinians, founded in 1688–1693. It includes the monastery church of the Most Holy Trinity, built in 1706–1723. The church tower, crowned with an onion dome, was built around the mid-18th century. The church contains valuable furnishings and preserved paintings of great value, including a panel painting of the Lnáře Madonna from the 15th century.


Location: map
Accommodation:
Hotel Na panské (Lnáře)
Part of the château (stronghold) serves as a guesthouse with 22 beds in 2–3 bed rooms with shower. Possibility of organising weddings, training events, meetings, congresses and presentations. For guests there is a garden area with a swimming pool, tennis, volleyball, mini-golf, a garden barbecue, bonfire site and open-air dance floor. Contact: Ing. Anna Zralá, tel: 0344 495 124/420 330.
Hotel Lnáře (Lnáře, tel: 383 495 290)
Catering:
Restaurace Pod klášterem — Olga Koudelková (Lnáře, tel: 383 495 234)
Hostinec Přístav (Lnáře 116, tel: 383 495 424)
Further information: www.lnare-obec.cz

Updated: 27. 06. 2026