The wooden castle originally belonged to the Bohemian rulers. It was rebuilt in stone in the Gothic style by King Přemysl Otakar I at the end of the 16th century. John of Luxembourg sold the moated castle to the noble family of Zajiců of Hazmburk. Budyně Castle and the entire estate experienced its greatest development under their rule. In 1946, the moated castle became the property of the town of Budyně nad Ohří and was reconstructed in its present form in 1975. Reconstruction of the surrounding walls began in the 1990s. In the 1920s, the Janda Museum was established on the premises of the chateau, which was created mainly from donations from travelers and private collections of the inhabitants of the Budyně region. The stuffed crocodile that Zajíc of Hazmburk brought back from Egypt at the beginning of the 16th century deserves special attention. Visitors can also admire a collection of rare books from the libraries of noble families. Also worth mentioning is the founding charter of the town of Budyně nad Ohří from the 13th century. In 1997, the Janda Museum was opened in the moated castle in Budyně nad Ohří after reconstruction. While visiting the museum, visitors can also take part in a guided tour of the chateau interiors.