Opočno Castle

Opočno Castle is a complex of buildings in renaissance style in the town of Opočno, Czech Republic. The place was mentioned in 1068 and built on the location of a former gothic castle. It belonged to the Trčka family from 1553 until 1634. In 1634 when Adam Erdmann von Trčka died, the emperor Ferdinand II allowed the Colloredo family to buy the property for 35,000 "Reichsgulden". Since then the Colloredos have substantially modified the chateau and even founded a 22-hectare English garden with rare trees, ponds and waterfalls. They contracted the architects G.B. Alliprandi and Santini.

The castle is now a museum and has historical interiors, with a gallery, a library, ethnographic collections, and an armoury housing weaponry from 16th to 19th centuries including oriental weapons. The collection was founded by F.G. Colloredo-Mansfeld.

Under Communist rule, the Czechoslovak state took possession of Opočno castle. In 2003 the Czech courts decided to return the property to the Colloredo family, but as of 2007 the decision was reversed, although the family has appealed to the higher Courts.