Václav and Dobroslava Mencl – husband and wife, historians and preservationists – spent the last years of their lives at Nemilkov Castle, where they left a lasting mark. Their works, such as Folk Architecture in Czechoslovakia and Czech Castles, continue to shape our care for historical monuments to this day. In 2024, a memorial plaque was ceremoniously unveiled at the castle in their honor.

In the Baroque ballroom of Nemilkov Castle, restorers are currently uncovering original roses hidden beneath layers of newer paint. Anyone who contributes to the restoration can have their own rose in the hall as a permanent reminder of their support. The restoration is open to the public and will culminate in a concert on the second Saturday in July.

Amateur runner David Kaplan set out to run nine marathons in nine days across Vancouver Island to support Doctors Without Borders. Each kilometer of his run symbolizes a specific act of aid—for CZK 240, you can "adopt" one of them and contribute to those who need it most. The goal of the "Beyond the Limits" challenge is to raise CZK 91,680 and inspire others to take meaningful action.

Come and see our summer events.

When Markéta and Michal Kaplan left Prague in 2016 and bought a dilapidated castle in Nemilkov, they had no idea that a lifetime's work awaited them – perhaps even several generations' worth. They are trying to turn this former cultural monument, overgrown with weeds, mouse nests, and an asbestos roof, into a place full of life. Thanks to their hard work, public support, and determination, the castle is slowly coming back to life.

Nemilkov Castle became not only a home for my parents, but also a symbol of courage for our entire family. As a member of the younger Kaplan generation, I both admired and struggled to understand their decision to leave everything behind—my feelings alternated between joy and fear and uncertainty. Today, however, I know that it was worth it. They found a meaningful project, a new home, and happiness, and I found a place I love to return to.

During our first months in Nemilkov, we washed in a medieval fashion—with a bucket and jug in front of the castle, where every bath ended with an ice-cold shower. This was followed by a garden hose "shower," bathing in Bušek Pond without soap, and only later did a plumber friend set up a makeshift bathroom with a boiler, albeit in an unheated room. Today we also have a regular toilet, but it still stands on bricks in winter; sanitary facilities are improving slowly and there is still room for improvement.

At the beginning of the renovation, we forbade ourselves from doing any gardening in Nemilkov, because flowers and trees would only take up time. However, a basket of tulip bulbs from a neighbor was enough to make me give up on my resolution. Despite the soil being full of bricks, glass, and old shoes, we planted dozens of spruce trees, shrubs, herbs, vegetables, and flowers by spring. Watering in the dry Pošumaví region is a struggle, but saving the castle has long since come to mean saving the garden as well.