Opočno will remain with the state, the Strasbourg court rejected the complaint

Opočno – The Opočno Castle in the Rychnov region will remain state-owned according to Czech Radio Radiožurnál (ČRo). The European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg has rejected the complaint of the Colloredo-Mansfeld family, thereby confirming last year's ruling of the Czech Constitutional Court. ČRo reported this today, citing the Ministry of Justice.

With the rejection of the complaint, a thirty-year dispute over the ownership of the castle between the daughter of the last noble owner, Kristina Colloredo-Mansfeldová, and the Czech Republic comes to an end. The Ministry of Justice considers the matter closed, ČRo stated. The legal representative of the Colloredo-Mansfeld family did not comment on the decision for ČRo. However, the dispute over part of the castle's furnishings continues, which is currently being handled by the Regional Court in Pardubice.

The castle was seized by the Nazis, and after the war, it was taken over by the state. After the fall of communism, the courts dealt with the case repeatedly, with several twists. Colloredo-Mansfeldová even managed the castle for a certain period. However, following the intervention of the Constitutional Court, the state regained control of the property in April 2007.

Later, due to another finding by the Constitutional Court, Colloredo-Mansfeldová achieved the renewal of proceedings. However, the same decision was made as before, so the castle is still managed by the National Heritage Institute. The Constitutional Court rejected Colloredo-Mansfeldová's last complaint in May of last year.