Nelahozeves Chateau
Nelahozeves was the birthplace of Antonín Dvořák (1841-1904), one of the greatest Czech composers, who was known for weaving folk influences into Romantic music. Dvořák’s pretty corner house on the main road with its tidy windows and arches, has a small memorial museum. In his time, the house was an inn run by his parents, and it was here that he learned to play the violin.
The most prominent sight in town is the 16th century Renaissance chateau of Nelahozeves, a pinnacle of Renaissance architecture in Bohemia. Once the residence of the powerful Lobkowitz family, the chateau now houses a rich, excellent collection of fine art, including paintings by Brueghel, Rubens, and Velasquez, together with one of the largest collections of Spanish portraits from the 16th and 17th centuries outside of Spain. The exhibit includes a voluminous collection of furniture (glorious pieces from 16th to 18th century mostly), glass, pottery, china, metalwork, and rare books. Additional highlights include musical instruments and manuscripts of Beethoven, Mozart, and others.
The exterior black-and-white sgraffiti is quite well preserved, and so are some of the interiors. One of the best preserved Renaissance spaces is the beautiful Knight's Hall with a stone fireplace and paintings on walls and ceiling.