Nové Hrady Chateau

Featured location 07/2016

Known for its unique look, the castle Nové Hrady by Litomyšl has been called the Czech Versailles or Little Schönbrunn. It’s one of the few rococo structures left in the Czech Republic. This landmark has the same name as the village where it’s located. It was built between 1774-1777 by Count Jean-Antoine Harbuval de Chamaré in the style of French summer residences.

Entering through a large aisled hall with cross vaults leads via the castle stairs to the separate wings of the castle. The first floor above the entrance hall is the main rococo hall with rich stucco decorations. Filmmakers will surely appreciate the interiors of the castle with rococo and classicist furniture, paintings and numerous small art objects. The ground floor of the west wing also has a chapel.

Of further cinematic interest are the exteriors around the castle – the castle’s entrance gate and the French rococo garden with fountains and broderies of sheared boxwood, a classicist gazebo, administrative buildings, a baroque granary and an English park with a sandstone Calvary path (1767) that leads to the remains of the original Gothic castle, a vegetable garden, an open-air baroque theater and a new labyrinth.

The castle is surrounded by beautiful landscapes that are still relatively unaffected by civilization. Nearby is the protected natural phenomenon Toulovcovy maštale. Less than 15 km away is the national park Ždárské Vrchy with an area of 709 km2. The territory includes four national nature reserves, nine nature reserves and 36 natural monuments. It’s all part of the wonderful character of the surrounding area.

An indisputable advantage of filming at castle Nové Hrady is its location near the town of Litomyšl. The town offers filmmakers not only historically significant places such as a renaissance castle, the Smetana Square, the Church of the Holy Cross and the former Pernštejn Court, but it also modern architecture. Among notable sights is the European teaching center decorated by unique sgraffito, reconstructed from Litomysl Castle’s brewery by the prominent Czech architect Josef Pleskot. Also worth seeing is the revitalized historic building of the Regional Museum in Litomyšl and the restored monastery gardens, adorned with sculptures by Olbram Zoubek.

There are also new buildings – the minimalist Church of Brethren by Zdeňek Fránk, with an altar by Karel Malich and a glass cross by Václav Cígler, who was nominated for the European Miese van der Rohe Award. Also of note is the indoor swimming pool complex, with the shell of the building visually connected to the Cerná Hora slope. There is also an original bus station, and dozens of other architectural gems including some quite remarkable family houses.

In 1989, the castle Nové Hrady was first returned to the grandchildren of the original owner, the textile industrialist Josef Bartoň from Nové Město nad Metují. The castle was then bought by Peter and Magda Kučera from Prague. “Reconstruction of the castle twice exceeded the purchase price, but that’s not all – [the money] does not show just how much work had to be done”, said the sixty-three-year-old Petr Kučera. According to the Kučeras, it is essential that the castle offers more than just castle tours. There is also an art gallery, a restaurant and a café, a place for wedding ceremonies, and a place for cultural events, lectures and receptions.

“From the beginning, we wanted the castle for business and therefore we welcome any form of commercial use of the castle, which includes rental to filmmakers. The castle has so much to offer them, thanks to its unique atmosphere,” emphasizes Magda Kučerová.

Contact the Czech Film Commission or one of the many local location managers for more information about this and other locations.