Auction of Štiřín Castle cancelled due to lack of bidders

The Office for State Representation in Property Matters (ÚZSVM) has cancelled the planned auction of Štiřín Castle in Central Bohemia after no bidders submitted the required auction deposit of CZK 30 million. The auction, which had a starting price of CZK 3.3 billion, was poised to become the highest-value property sale ever conducted by the ÚZSVM through an electronic auction. However, with no deposit paid, the auction was called off, and a new round of bidding will be announced.

Štiřín Castle, previously used as a hotel with a restaurant, wellness centre, and golf course, was transferred from the Foreign Ministry to the Property Office last June after the ministry declared it no longer needed the site. At the time of transfer, the castle was already closed. Despite being offered to other state institutions, none expressed interest, prompting the office to put the property up for sale in a public tender.

“The law mandates that unnecessary state property be sold through transparent tender procedures. In the case of Štiřín Castle, there was no reason to deviate from this approach, especially given the high costs to taxpayers in managing the empty site,” the Property Office stated. The cost of maintaining the vacant property is significant, with monthly expenses reaching CZK 600,000, primarily for the upkeep of the golf course.

Opposition to the sale has emerged from various quarters, including the parliamentary control committee, which suggested the castle be transferred to the House of Commons. The local municipality of Kamenice also proposed a joint project with the state, envisioning part of the castle being used for public services like a surgery and kindergarten, while the rest could serve state purposes. Kamenice Mayor Pavel Čermák had earlier predicted that the castle would not sell in the first round of bidding, suggesting that a failed auction could reopen negotiations with the state.

Štiřín Castle, built in the mid-18th century and renovated in the late 20th century, has a long and storied history. It was modified around 1900 based on designs by architect Jiří Stibral. The property has been owned by the state since 1945, though it briefly served as a scouting facility before legal disputes confirmed state ownership in 2005.

The Property Office will soon announce the terms for the new round of auction on its website.

Source: CTK