There is a great attraction waiting for all romantics and fairy-tale lovers near Jirkov - the Červený hrádek Chateau. Originally this was the site of Borek Castle, which was built around 1415 and shares a common history with the older Jirkov. When it was newly built the castle was almost destroyed by the Hussites. It was repaired in 1420; a new roof was built and the facade was painted red. It was given its new name at that time - Červený hrádek, which means red castle. The castle and surrounding estates prospered for two centuries, but unfortunately resistance of the locals against recatholisation efforts during the Thirty Years War spelled doom. Jan Adam Hrzán of Harasov had a Baroque, four-wing chateau built on the castle ruins in 1655-1675, and the interiors were modified in the following decades. The Knights' Hall is the most noteworthy. The chateau was developed considerably under the house of Rottenhahn, which acquired the estate in 1766. Jindřich František, in particular, advanced the estate economically. The chapel was extended and a library was built, the front was remodelled and the English-style park was established. Červený hrádek was nationalised in 1945, the confiscation being also based on an event that had taken place here in August 1938, when emissary of the British government Lord Runciman and the leader of the Sudeten Germans Henlein met in the premises. Various state organisations used the premises in the following decades. The Jirkov municipality received the derelict chateau into its ownership in 1996. It took the next ten years to renovate the building. Since 2006, it has been the headquarters of the allowance organisation Cultural, Educational and Information Facility Jirkov (KVIZ), the organiser of a number of traditional cultural events both in the chateau premises and in the town. KVIZ takes care of the chateau's operation, sightseeing tour, restaurant and wine cellar, hotel and educational facility. Civil and church wedding ceremonies are held in the Knights' Hall, in the chapel or outdoors.
