Zámek Nalžovice Castle

Zámek Nalžovice is located in the centre of the village Nalžovice in the district of Příbram in Sedlčansko in the Central Bohemian Region. It is a Baroque building from the 17th century, which was later rebuilt in the 19th century. The castle is registered in the Central List of Real-Estate Cultural Monuments and represents an important part of the local heritage.

Originally there was a medieval fortress that belonged to local flags. The construction of the Baroque castle began in the second half of the 17th century when Kryštof Koppl z Adlesbergu started it. The construction was subsequently completed by a renowned Prague doctor and scientist Mikuláš Franchimont z Frankenfeldu, who also owned a castle in nearby Kňovice. In the years 1690 to 1694 Franchimont had built the chapel of Our Lady of Pain in the castle park, which was realized by his son Antonín Alexander Franchimont.

The next stage of the development of the castle was 1741 when Jan Václav Alsterl from Astfeld won it. In 1750 to 1760 he continued to modify the construction. At the end of the 18th century, the castle became the property of the Hruškovsky family from Hruškov and several other owners gradually took over.

The Second World War brought fundamental changes to the castle. When the locals were expelled and the entire area turned into an SS military training facility, the castle was confiscated by the last owner of Franz Schwarzenberg. It became the seat of a military staff designed to vacate the country. It was particularly tragically served as the seat of the Supreme Court for SS officers from all over Europe. The SS officers who were given the death penalty by shooting were executed at the castle park wall.

After 1945, the castle became the property of the Ministry of Justice. Since 1952, the District National Committee has established a retirement home here. After the fall of communism in 1989, the castle was returned as a restitution to the last owners of the Schwarzenberg family, but it still serves as a home for people with disabilities.

Architecturally, it is an extensive complex containing several buildings and parking areas. The actual castle is designed as a block construction of a rectangular plan. The centre of the building has two floors with a Mansard roof and a small turret, while the sides are single storey. The main facade of the castle, facing southwest, has seven window axes, side facades are six-axis. Part of the complex is a large economic courtyard with nine objects, two of which have very old historical cores.

In the English park northeast of the castle stands the chapel of the Virgin Mary Bolestý, originally a Baroque building. The chapel burned down in 1823 and was rebuilt in 1855 to 1859. In its interior there are paintings from the time of the second rococo and above the main altar is a polychrome statue of Pieta from the second half of the 17th century. The chapel is adjacent to the men's tomb and the whole area is defined by a wall.

Today the castle is not open to the public. After the restitution return to Schwarzenberg in 1989, home for disabled people continues to work here.