Defurovy Lažany Castle

Defurovy Lažany, a historical castle in the village of Chanovic in the district of Klatovy, is an important cultural monument. Originally there was a Gothic fortress, which was transformed into a Renaissance style into a castle. In the second half of the 17th century another transformation took place in the Baroque style and later the castle was adapted classicically. The castle area has been protected as a cultural monument since 1964.

The oldest mansion in the village was a Gothic fortress, acquired in the fifteenth century by Lažanski from Buk. Oldřich Lažanský z Bukové is first mentioned in 1483. After that she inherited the property of the widow Dorota z Prostého, and when she died before 1496, she acquired the Lažany Hynek z Bukové, which was still here in 1509. Veronika z Dreilinku, which belonged to Hynka, transferred the property to her husband Václav from Strachovice. Their son Peter was murdered in 1586, and the property was therefore inherited by the daughters of Marjan and Anna. Anna took over her sister's share in 1595. In the second half of the 16th century, the old fortress was rebuilt in the Renaissance style.

The architecture of the castle Defur Lažan is a fascinating testimony of historical changes. The original Gothic fortress was rebuilt in the second half of the 16th century in Renaissance style. In the third quarter of the 17th century, another reconstruction took place in the early Baroque style, which turned the castle into a form we know today. Subsequently, the chateau was adapted classically by some of the owners in the middle of the 19th century. Four single-storey castle wings are surrounded by a trapezoidal courtyard, which is driven into by a semi-circular end-shaped portal. The tank is lined with ground arcades with cross vaults, which gives the complex an elegant and historic atmosphere.

The ownership of the Defur Lažans has gone through many hands. After the murder of Peter of Strachovice in 1586, Marjan and Anna's daughter's estate was inherited. Anna married Adam Pikhart of the Green Valley, who sold the Lažanis in 1615 to Bedřich Švihovski of Rýzmberk. After that, the Lažanas were part of the Nalžovský or Preštice estate until 1658, when Eliška Černínová z Rýzmberka sold them to Maximilian Valentine of Martinique. In the third quarter of the 17th century another reconstruction took place in the Baroque style, and the estate was sold to Count Jan Desfour. Desfour's estate belonged to the nineteenth century when it was inherited by Aloisie Desfoursová, provdaná Brecheinvillová. In 1823 Lažana bought Václav Bechyně z Lažan from her, which indebted the estate, and after his death, the widow Rose Bechyňová had to sell them to Count František Boos-Waldeck in 1831. His descendants owned the castle until 1918.

Key events in the history of Defur Lažany are linked to their architectural changes and changes in ownership. In 1586, Petr ze Strachovic was murdered, which led to an inheritance between his sisters. The sale of Lažan Bedřich Švihovský from Rýzmberk in 1615 and the subsequent reconstruction of the fort into the Baroque castle in the third quarter of the 17th century was also an important event.

Today Defurovy Lažany is a protected cultural monument that attracts visitors from all over the world with its historical significance and architectural beauty. The castle is not only an important cultural heritage, but also a place full of history and engaging stories. The visit to Defur Lažany offers a unique opportunity to explore the rich history of Czech agricultural education and architecture, which is why this castle is really worth visiting.