From the history of the Světlá castle

The oldest part of castle, built in the 14th century, was originally surrounded by a moat with water.

The oldest wing (in yellow), and the second-oldest wing (in blue) built in the 15th century.

The oldest part of the castle in Světlá on the Sazava was built on the site of a squire's stronghold by Count Steven Sternberg in 1392/1393 (the southern part of the castle). This part of the castle was protected by moats filled with water.

In 1417 Světla became the property of the monastery in Vilemov. During the Hussite wars the Světlá property was acquired by the king of Bohemia. In 1429 the castle and the estate were acquired by the family Trcka of Lipa who kept the castle and the estate for 205 years up to 1634 ⁽¹⁾. The most important of them was Burian Trcka of Lipa who built the second part constructed as a hunter's chateau (the southern part facing the park). The Trckas owned extensive lands around Habry, Jenikov, Světlá and Zleby and forests around Ledec.

From this period derives a plate on the side entrance with the legend "Non est requies in hoc mundo B.T.Z.L.N.S.N.S.P.K.C MDXXXXXXVII" (There is no rest in this world - Burian Trcka of Lipa at Světlá on the Sazava, first chamberlain of the emperor 1567). Doors inlaid with valuable woods and ivory representing biblical events and a view of the Trcka castle have also been preserved.

After 1634 a number of aristocratic families, most importantly the Waldsteins and Verniers, owned the castle. The Verniers added the part facing the town. It contains the hall of the knights which serves the school and the town on festive occasions.

In the second half of the 18th century the castle was owned by the Counts Kolovrat.

Světlá as it was in the early 1800s Painting by Antonin Mánes National Gallery, Prague

During the Napoleonic wars a military hospital was located in the castle and 1200 soldiers died here. They were buried in Dolni Brezinka where a monument was erected in their memory.

Another important family owning the castle and the estate was the Salm-Reiferscheidts. They built the winter garden completing the square outline of the castle. The park was enlarged and the castle was largely rebuilt. At the eastern entrance two statues were erected representing the founder of the house of Salm-Reiferscheidt and Francis of Lauraine. The last aristocratic owners up to 1914 were the Counts Thun-Hohenstein.

In 1914 the castle and the estate were bought by Richard Morawetz ⁽²⁾ who managed it up to 1939 when he left the country.

During the second world war the furnishings of the castle were sold and German, Soviet and Czechoslovak soldiers were stationed in it up to 1947. In 1950 half of the castle was leased to the State Insuance Company and the other half was used as an agricultural school.

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(1) In 1634 Albrecht Wallenstein, head of Catholic armies in the thirty-year war, was murdered on orders of the emperor Ferdinand Habsburg on suspicion of treason. Count Adam Trcka, Wallenstein's deputy, was also murdered and his property was confiscated.

(2) The Czech original states falsely that Richard Morawetz bought the castle in 1917. The Thuns were so upset that a Jew should own it that they had the coat of arms on the wall at the castle entrance knocked off.