Chateau Fryštát

Don’t miss this true gem of Karviná and the entire Těšín end of Silesia! The cozy chambers, lounges and reception halls at this Empire-style chateau with an adjacent park are reminiscent of Jane Austen novels and will surely charm you with their game enclosure and pond with boats. Tours also take place throughout the entire winter season on weekends!

Where today’s chateau Fryštát stands, there used to be a wooden castle at the end of the 13th century. The castle was built by the Piast family as their second residence, the first one being in Těšín. The chateau got its current looks thanks to the Larisch-Mönnich family, who owned it until the end of World War II and influenced the development of the entire region of Karviná and Ostrava. They were allies of the highest ranking families in Europe, such as Empress Elizabeth of Austria, known as Sissi. That is why many aristocrats used to come to Fryštát, including the Habsburg crown prince Rudolf.

In the chateau surroundings, you can identify traces of the Irish Catholic Taaf family. The Taafs fled to the Těšín area from Ireland during the persecution of Catholics. During the Taaf reign, the chateau was visit by, among others, the king of Sweden. The statue of St. Patrick, the Patron of the Irish, stands in front of a church nearby.

One of the tour paths will take you to the Church of the Holy Cross – the oldest building in Karviná. Inside, you will find a unique medieval fresco “comic strip” and a painting that can work miracles!

An art exhibit of the National Gallery in Prague is also part of chateau Fryštát.

In the summer, you can explore the chateau surroundings with style in a horse-drawn carriage!