The restoration of the burned castle in Horní Maršov in the Trutnov region has the approval of heritage protection officials

Horní Maršov - The restoration of the fire-damaged castle in Horní Maršov in the Krkonoš Mountains has received approval from heritage conservationists. The owner of the monument and the adjacent area, Krkonoše Resort Invest, is preparing housing for seniors there. This was announced today by company spokesperson Tomáš Perman. The project is also set to include the restoration of the castle park. The castle has been in a state of emergency since the fire in 2018. Completion of the restoration cannot be expected earlier than in four years, according to the investor's representative.

"The investor's representatives, who want to find a new use for the historical property, obtained consent from the National Heritage Institute (NPÚ) for its revitalization at the beginning of September. The investor is now working on a feasibility study for the plan to build senior housing in and around the castle, taking into account the conditions set by heritage conservationists," said Perman.

The investor previously stated that the intention is to build a hotel-style home for active seniors in the area, which will operate on the principle of long-term rentals. According to Perman, the final operating mode of the facility is being specified. The project also includes a complete restoration of the castle complex, including the park and the preservation of the former brewery cellar. One of the goals is to make the park and part of the castle accessible to the public, thereby expanding the center of the village. The total costs are estimated by the investor to be in the hundreds of millions of crowns, with an expected payback period of more than 20 years.

"We have reached a shared perspective with the investor on what must be preserved and restored unchanged in the castle building, and to what extent it makes sense and is possible to restore the castle as entirely contemporary architecture. We agree on the manner of supplementing the area of the former brewery, which is based on the documented historical extent," said Jiří Balský, the director of the NPÚ office in Josefov. According to the heritage conservationists, the building is an important example of a late Baroque rural castle that has been modernized.

The original front wing with the staircase will remain preserved at the castle. Structures that can no longer be saved will be replaced with new ones, in line with the historical context. The northern and eastern wings will be newly constructed, preserving the characteristic form of the original wings, which will ensure continuity of the historical appearance, stated the investor. The western wing, according to him, will respect the original shape, however in a modern interpretation. The castle courtyard will be covered at ground level with a circular corridor connecting all the wings. An open atrium will be created in the middle.

The renovation of the castle park will involve the use of original local tree species and also the restoration of historical paths. There will be a central fountain, sculptures, a castle gate, and other elements in front of the castle.

Since 1994, the castle has not been used. "We welcome the project; it will expand and revitalize the center of the village. I believe it will also bring new job positions. We have agreed with the investor that they will ensure long-term space in the castle for joint gatherings of residents or various social services," stated mayor Pavel Mrázek (Maršov - Gateway to the Krkonoš).

The castle was confiscated by the state after World War II. In the 1990s, the municipality sold the building to a Russian businessman, from whom it was purchased in 2018 by the company Zámek Horní Maršov. The monument burned down in the summer of that year and has been without a roof since then. The fire was reportedly set intentionally, according to the police. In 2024, the ruins were bought by the company Pec Resort Invest, now Krkonoše Resort Invest. The company owns several real estate projects in the Krkonoš Mountains. Its majority shareholder is investor Tomáš Otruba, who resides permanently in Pec pod Sněžkou.