The Central Bohemian Highlands – a landscape split by the Elbe River, surrounded on all sides by hills of such bizarre, improbable, and unbelievable shapes that even the most creative, imaginative scenographer would have a hard time dreaming it up. Within this fantasyland, just slightly less than 50 km from Prague, the scenic town of Roudnice lies hidden.
Photo: Archiv Lobkowicz Collections o. p. s.
“The Lobkowicz family seat in Roudnice nad Labem is one of the largest chateau complexes in the Czech Republic. With 189 halls and salons, spacious storage and parking areas, and absolute privacy, the chateau is an ideal location for films or series from abroad range of historical eras,” says Barbora Hyšková of the Ústí Region Film Office, and adds:
“One of the many advantages of Roudnice Chateau is its ease of access. It’s just off the D8 highway, just under an hour from Prague, and only 100 km from Dresden.
The chateau features over 10,000 m2 of interior space and 80,000 m2 of exterior space, and is a listed property. The complex includes the deconsecrated Church of St. George, an abandoned Capuchin monastery, and a granary.
“In recent years, the chateau has been used only sporadically for cultural events, festivals, and weddings. The tour passes through only a fraction of the chateau, so no special provisions need to be made to accommodate filming. Film crews are also welcome to adapt the interior of the chateau to suit. All spaces except the chateau chapel can be returned to their original appearances,” says the chateau’s chatelaine Květa Domoráková.
The dominant feature of the chateau complex is the chapel, whose Baroque stucco and 17th century frescos were recently restored. “Despite the fact that Roudnice Chateau is one of our most important Baroque buildings, it’s actually far more diverse architecturally. In the cellars, you’ll find remains of a Romanesque castle including fragments of 12th century columns. Also worthy of attention is the large reconstructed Great Hall in the western wing of the castle, which was damaged during the war,” says Lucie Němečková, curator of the Lobkowicz collections.
Should filmmakers decide to shoot in Roudnice Chateau, they’ll have the added attraction of the nearby Central Bohemian Highlands, where the Elbe River meanders through a dramatic terrain of extinct volcanoes, castle ruins, historical towns, and vineyards.
For more information about this and other locations in the Ústí region, please contact Barbora Hyšková at the Ústi Region Film Office at hyskova.b@kr-ustecky.cz, or by phone at +420 778 494 321.
