Lidkovice Castle

Lidkovický castle is located in the same-name village northwest of Sedlec-Prčice in the district of Příbram. This Baroque monument was built at the beginning of the eighteenth century by Bernard Šmerovský of Lidkovice as the centre of a small estate. Today it is protected for its historical value and considered a cultural landmark.

The castle was built between 1712-1720 and served as a centre of the estate of Bernard Šmerovski of Lidkovic. After that he switched to his youngest son Albrecht Vavrence Šmerovski from Lidkovice and in 1762 he was bought by Jan Kunáš from Machovice. During the nineteenth century, the owner often changed, which led to several reconstructions and modifications in classical style.

It is architecturally characterised by a rectangular plan with risalities on both the north and south sides. The south risalite, which is more prominent, contains the main entrance to the building and has a passable ground floor, while on the floor there is a large hall. The north risalite has a balcony at the level of the first floor. The spaces in both side wings are encased with classical flat vaults, but above the staircase in the central part of the building there is a rolled vaults. The baroque hambalic crov carries a mansard roof, which used to run out with a lantern lid. Significant modifications took place in 1869 and at the end of the nineteenth century.

During the twentieth century, the castle went into the hands of Viktor and Bert Schwarz, whose son-in-law became Dr. Hejda. Under the leadership of these personalities, Lidkovický castle becomes the centre of Czech cultural elite, where many important artists and intellectuals like Jan Zrzavý, Josef Svatopluk Machar and Ferdinand Peroutka visited. This era ended after Dr. Hejda was sentenced to life imprisonment in 1950 in the process of Milada Horáková. After this event the castle was occupied by folk militia from Votice and later used by the Research Institute of Engineering Technology in Prague.

Today Lidkovický castle is accessible to visitors who have the opportunity to become acquainted with its rich history and architectural features. The park next to the castle, which is accessible by staircase in the supporting wall, provides a place of quiet atmosphere. The statue of a kneeling saint in the eastern part of the park resembles a historical connection to the surrounding areas.

Lidkovický castle is not only a monument to the architectural heritage, but also a witness of many cultural and social changes. Its history reveals the story of adaptation and survival in different stages of Czech history. For visitors the castle is not only a visual but also an intellectual adventure that offers a view of the past and an inspiration for the present.