The château in Zruč nad Sázavou has evolved over the centuries, starting out as a medieval castle, which was later rebuilt as a Renaissance, Baroque and Classicist residence, until it was finally modified in a Historicist style towards the end of the 19th century. Its history was most significantly influenced by the noble house of Kolowrat and the Schebek family. Following the large fire in 1781, the château was rebuilt into its current neo-Gothic form.
Today, walking through the château interior is like taking a fascinating stroll through time, since each room is furnished in a different style – from antiquity all the way to art nouveau. There is a Museum of Boating near the castle, featuring a range of historic and modern water craft.
References:Linderhof is the smallest of the three palaces built by King Ludwig II of Bavaria and the only one which he lived to see completed.
Ludwig II, who was crowned king in 1864, began his building activities in 1867-1868 by redesigning his rooms in the Munich Residenz and laying the foundation stone of Neuschwanstein Castle. In 1868 he was already making his first plans for Linderhof. However, neither the palace modelled on Versailles that was to be sited on the floor of the valley nor the large Byzantine palace envisaged by Ludwig II were ever built.
Instead, the new building developed around the forester's house belonging to his father Maximilian II, which was located in the open space in front of the present palace and was used by the king when crown prince on hunting expeditions with his father.