Horní Beřkovice Chateau is a striking baroque complex near Roudnice nad Labem, notable for the fact that it now houses a working psychiatric hospital. It is a place for travelers curious about grand architecture wrapped in an unusual and slightly melancholic story.

The chateau grounds sit in the gently rolling countryside of the Polabí lowlands, surrounded by an English-style park landscaped in the 19th century. The setting is calm and rural, pleasant to walk through in any season - fresh greenery in spring, warm colors from the old trees in autumn. The main building, flanked by two wings enclosing an honorary courtyard, still impresses visitors even though its interiors now serve medical purposes.

• Roudnice nad Labem — a few kilometers along a local road, easy route, by car or bike, about 15-20 minutes
• Walking access possible from neighboring villages via local roads, easy route

• The chateau houses an active psychiatric hospital, so interior access is restricted
• The park and facades can be admired from outside
• The grounds include the former hospital church of St. Wenceslas, now a multifunctional center
• The whole complex is protected as a cultural monument

Interesting fact: the original Gothic fortress that started it all in the 15th century still stands within the hospital grounds, though later renovations erased its historic appearance.