The Early Gothic castle in Poděbrady was built by King Ottokar II in the second half of the 13th century. The Poděbrady estate was made famous thanks to George of Kunštát and Poděbrady, the only Bohemian king that did not come from a royal dynasty, but rather was elected. Ferdinand I also visited Poděbrady and he fell in love with the place so much that he had the local royal mansion improved – it was rebuilt into a Renaissance chateau. The current Baroque look was designed by the famous architect František Maxmilián Kaňka. The oldest part of the chateau contains the King George of Poděbrady Memorial with expositions presenting the time when this talented politician and diplomat ruled the country.