The auction of the Kunratice castle has a winner at a starting price of CZK 106,260,000

The auction of a chateau and the adjacent park in Prague's Kunratice has a winner who offered a starting price of CZK 106,260,000. The Office for State Representation in Property Matters (ÚZSVM), which announced the auction, will now evaluate the result of the auction and decide on the next course of action, according to spokeswoman Michaela Tesařová. The Property Office offered the castle for electronic auction after no state institution showed interest in it.

"Three bidders applied for the electronic auction of the Kunratice castle and two of them paid the required deposit of CZK 10 million within the deadline. During the electronic auction, one bid fell short of the minimum announced price," Tesarová said. According to the auction website, the bidding took place two minutes before the auction ended.

The three-winged Baroque chateau, which is subject to monument protection, was built by František Václav Čabelický of Soutice in 1688 on the site of a medieval fortress, which in the past also belonged to King Václav IV. A large chateau park of over 1.4 hectares with a pheasantry created in the 18th century is adjacent to the south side. Later, the castle was rebuilt in the classical style and a clock tower was added to the northern facade. Inside, the interior preserves high-quality stucco and painted decoration.

After 1945 the castle was confiscated and from 1957 it housed the entomological department of the National Museum. The collections left the chateau in 2014 and the building has not been used since then. The ÚZSVM took over the premises from the National Museum in 2021 and subsequently offered it to other state institutions for use, but none of them showed any interest. The Property Office also negotiated with Prague about the transfer of the chateau and park in exchange for property in which the state would be interested. The capital rejected the exchange last year. Subsequently, the ÚZSVM offered the castle in an electronic auction.

Source: ÚZSVM and CTK