Castle of Duchcov
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The Castle of Duchcov (Dux in German) is a castle in northern Bohemia, Czech Republic.
It was founded as a fort in the 13th century by the Hrabišic dynasty, which resided at Castle Osek. Not earlier than 1527, the Lobkowitz dynasty replaced the fort with a one-wing Renaissance palace. The daughter of the last member of the family - František Josef of Lobkowitz - Marie Polyxena of Talmberk and Lobkowitz, married Maxmillian, Count of Waldstein, in 1642. Their son Jan Bedřich, Count of Waldstein, later the Archbishop of Prague, was apprised with the French architect and painter Jean Baptiste Mathey and brought him to Duchcov for the purpose of rebuilding the castle. Mathey designed a huge Baroque complex, including a large park and a hospital. The decoration of the castle was provided by the best baroque artists in Bohemia - by sculptors Matyáš Bernard Braun and Ferdinand Maxmilián Brokoff and painter Václav Vavřinec Reiner. Between 1785 and 1798 Giacomo Casanova, the so-called secretary of the 18th century, spent the last thirteen years of his amazing life in Duchcov.
In the 19th century the castle was rebuilt in the classicist style and the garden in the romantic style. The Waldstein family sold the manor to the state and left the castle in 1921.
At present the castle is state-owned and open to visitors.
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