Savoia Castle

Škvorec Chateau (Czech: zámek Škvorec; German: Schloss Squorz or Schkworetz) is a chateau, formerly a minor castle, located in Škvorec in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic, about 23 kilometres (14 mi) east of Prague. The chateau, locally also known as the Starý zámek ("Old Chateau"), was indirectly first mentioned in historical sources in 1279, yet fully documented as late as since 1404. This Gothic castle was rebuilt during the 1520s into a Renaissance palace; but in 1639 – during the devastating Thirty Years' War – the premises were looted, burned and until 1710 laid in ruins. The chateau was restored then, this time in the Baroque style. Between 1860 and 1884 most of the compound was demolished (also due to the construction of local municipal school), leaving only the buildings in south-eastern corner. In 2008, the almost ruined remnants of the chateau were bought by a family of Russian-Italian immigrants which have gradually restored it and now promote a new name: the Savoia Castle (as an allusion of a noble family to which one of previous owners married – see below). New owners made the chateau partially accessible to the public in May 2016, since then there have been various cultural and commercial events here.