Sykhrov Palace. French Traditions in the Czech Republic

Since the 15th century, the northern fort of the Czech Kingdom was located here. Then representatives of the feudal family of Vartenberk owned the fort and rebuilt it into a Gothic fortress. In the 17th century, a French knight rebuilt it into a baroque stone estate. In 1820, the castle was bought by the Austrian marshal of French origin - Carl Alain Gabriel Rogan. Since then, for 125 years, the Sikhrov Castle has become the patrimony of the Rogan princes. This is a truly significant milestone in the history of the castle, as the color of France was gathered here on Czech soil.

The cradle of the clan was the city of Rogand in France (Mr. Brittany). Representatives of the dynasty were a privileged class, thanks to the antiquity of origin and the possession of strategically important fortresses and large estates.

The Rogans were related to the Scottish Stuarts, the French kings of the Bourbon dynasty, the Savoy and Lotharine dynasties. They had the right to call themselves princes of royal blood. Being in the public service of the French kings, they held high court, church and military posts. In the eighteenth century, the Rogans reached the pinnacle of wealth, influence and power. During the French Revolution, they emigrated. Lived in the Netherlands, Italy, Germany...

Carl Alain Gabriel Rogan chose the Czech Republic as his new homeland. In the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the French princes felt safe.

Under another prince, Camille Joseph Philippe Rogan, Sikhrov acquired his modern neo-Gothic appearance.

Sikhrov is the most significant Czech castle of the XIX century!

The collections of the castle consist of treasures that the Rogans managed to take out of France. The portrait gallery alone has 242 exhibits, it contains portraits of all representatives of this family since the XVI century. It is the largest collection of French portraiture outside of France. In addition to the kings here, for example, there is a portrait of Cardinal Richelieu and Madame Marie Eme Rogan, who bore the title of Duchess of Chevreau. This lady became famous in her time for intrigues, machinations and love affairs. She was the prototype of Milady Winter in The Three Musketeers. The library contains one and a half thousand folios published in the XVI-XVII centuries, as well as nine ancient manuscript books. The local collection of antique furniture is one of the best in the Czech Republic. A set of miniatures of the XVI century is absolutely unique. Salon of the royal apartments with a carved coffered ceiling.

The English park of Sikhrov Castle deserves attention, everyone will be interested in the aquarium and historical falconry, a demonstration of hunting birds, the flight of owls and eagles. Falconry is demonstrated in April, May, June and September every 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month. During the summer months (July and August) there is a demonstration every Sunday. Start times are 10:00, 13:00 and 15:00.