Chateau Svijany

Chateau Svijany is located just 40 minutes from Prague and 15 minutes from Liberec, only a few minutes from the D10 motorway exit.

Thanks to its convenient location, it’s an ideal starting point for exploring the Bohemian Paradise.

The chateau is partially wheelchair accessible – you can easily visit the garden, courtyard, and most exhibitions, with the exception of the cellar area.

Located directly in the chateau courtyard, the Chateau Tavern Café offers delicious coffee, homemade lemonades, and fresh desserts.

Please note: The café is closed to the public during private events.

In 1345, Cistercian monks from the Hradiště Monastery founded a manorial farm, where beer was already being brewed in the 16th century. The year 1564 is linked to the first mention of beer brewing in Svijany. Establishing taverns and brewing beer significantly increased the estate’s income.

In 1567, the property was divided among the Vartenberk brothers, and the estate was first referred to as the Svijany residence. In the same year, construction of the Chateau Svijany began, completed eleven years later in 1578.

After the death of Jaroslav of Vartenberk, the estate, including the brewery, passed to Jáchym Ondřej Šlik.

In the 1620s, he had the Knight’s Hall in the west wing decorated with magnificent Renaissance paintings. Over the centuries, these artworks were covered with plain plaster and forgotten — only to be rediscovered during the recent reconstruction.

Today, the original Šlik frescoes, including the painted coats of arms, have been fully restored.

In 1623, the estate was acquired by Albrecht of Waldstein (Wallenstein).
The Waldsteins were skilled entrepreneurs, and under their ownership, the brewery prospered. The chateau was rebuilt and expanded, as was the neighboring brewery.

The Waldstein family managed the estate until 1820, when Prince Charles Alain of Rohan purchased it. Under the Rohan family, the chateau was incorporated into the Sychrov estate and served as the administrative seat and residence for officials.

In 1892, brewmaster Antonín Kratochvíle leased the brewery from the Rohans, and in 1909 he purchased it from Alain Rohan.

The Kratochvíle family dynasty managed the brewery until 1939, when financial difficulties and the Great Depression forced Antonín Kratochvíle Jr. to auction the brewery — which was subsequently repurchased by Prince Alain Rohan.

A turning point came in 1998, when the English brewing company Bass sold the brewery to LIF a.s. of Liberec.
Thanks to dedicated work and a belief in traditional Czech brewing methods, the brewery began to flourish again — largely due to brewmaster and later director František Horák.

To this day, Svijany beer is brewed using the double-decoction method, fermented in open vats, and matured slowly in lager cellars at low temperatures — preserving its authentic character.

In 2013, Svijany Brewery acquired the neglected chateau and undertook its complete restoration, supported by a grant from the EEA and Norway Funds.
During the reconstruction and archaeological research, remarkable discoveries were made — including a 3,000-year-old bronze pin and a hidden underground passage.

Today, Chateau Svijany is open to the public, offering exhibitions on archaeology, the history of the chateau and the region, the story of local brewing, the chateau cellar, and the chateau chapel.

• Archaeological exhibition from the Bronze Age
• Bronze treasure
• History of the Chateau and the surrounding area
• Great Chapel
• Beer-Brewing exhibition in the Chateau Cellars
• Neolithic exhibition and Eduard Štorch

Please note: During wedding ceremonies held in the Great Chapel, a part of the exhibition is temporarily closed to the public. You can visit this section after the ceremony ends. Thank you for your understanding.

Self-guided tours are available all year round, from November to March by appointment only.

Chateau Svijany is surrounded by a beautiful garden, the perfect place for relaxation and fun.
Enjoy a space ideal for leisurely walks, active recreation, or playtime with children.

For Families with Children

The garden includes a playground with climbing frames, a slide, and interactive Montessori panels.
Young explorers can also enjoy our archaeological sandbox, where they can become junior archaeologists and uncover the skeleton of the ancient “Svijany swinija.”