Loučeň combines château history with a park that has its own historical and thematic story. Today’s Château Loučeň was built in the Baroque style between 1704 and 1713. The château park, with its labyrinths and mazes, provides a second focal point. This contrast can help you plan your trip: the château focuses on architectural and family history, while the park centres on landscape development and the interpretation of labyrinths.
Château History and Tours
The Thurn-Taxis family adds another point of reference in time: they became the owners of Loučeň in 1809, and Maxmilian Thurn-Taxis was the first member of the family to own it. Classic tours of the Château explore the period when Prince Alexandr and Princess Marie Thurn-Taxis lived there. This brings a specific period of life at the château into focus, alongside its architectural history. The interiors were first opened to the public in 1929. If you are planning a classic tour, check the booking calendar before your trip.
Château Park and Educational Trail
Work on the English-style château park began in 1828 under Karl Anselm Thurn-Taxis. The park covers 23 hectares and contains twelve labyrinths and mazes. A signposted educational trail connects them and provides detailed, thematically organised information about their historical roots and present-day forms. The park therefore focuses both on landscape history and on the development of labyrinths and their forms today. This distinguishes it from the family history presented on classic château tours.
There is also a seasonal option for a meal break: picnic baskets are available in the grounds of Château Loučeň from 1 May to 31 October, between 10:00 and 16:00. Options include baskets for couples, families with children, and smaller lunch boxes. Reservations are required at least 24 hours in advance. If you are planning a picnic, take both the seasonal dates and the required advance notice into account.
Church and Monuments
The Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary was built between 1710 and 1714, at the same time as Château Loučeň, to a design by F. M. Kaňka. It originally served as the château chapel. Its construction period and former function provide a direct link between the church’s history and that of the château.
The monuments also tell different stories from the past. Helma is named after the depiction of an infantry helmet at the top of its column. The Truchlící anděl monument near Boží voda was erected by the widow of General Karel Boromeu von Fürstenberg after he was killed in 1799 at the Battle of Stockach during the War of the Second Coalition. For Helma, a depicted object explains the name; for Truchlící anděl, the focus is on the circumstances and the person behind its erection.
Comparing the Construction Dates
The dates show how the themes differ: the Château was built between 1704 and 1713, the church was constructed between 1710 and 1714 at the same time as the Château, and work on the English-style château park began in 1828. The château and church therefore belong to the same construction period, while the park’s history began later. This comparison sets out the history of the area in terms of its buildings, the church’s function, and the landscape.
Discover more destinations: Prerov Nad Labem, Hrubý Jeseník, Kolaje, Choťánky, Rozdalovice, Vlkov Pod Oškobrhem, Zbožíčko, Sadská.
For the broader travel overview: Okres Nymburk.
