Biskupice Castle

Biskupice Castle is a modest Baroque residence perched on a gentle hill above the village of Biskupice, in the Svitavy district of the Pardubice Region, roughly 4 km northeast of Jevíčko. The site carries a story that stretches back to the Middle Ages, though the building visitors see today dates only from the early 18th century.

Where exactly is this castle located?

There are several villages named Biskupice across Moravia, so it's worth being precise: this particular Biskupice sits in the Svitavy district, Pardubice Region, at an elevation of about 352 metres above sea level. The castle stands on the edge of the village, on a low rise overlooking the surrounding farmland, with the Church of St. Peter and Paul right next to it.

Why is the village called Biskupice, and who held it first?

The name itself is a clue — as early as the mid-13th century, the village belonged to the Bishopric of Olomouc, pointing to ecclesiastical origins. In 1361 the estate passed to Margrave Jan Jindřich. The first fortified stronghold on the site, however, came later, built between 1493 and 1505 by the brothers Volfart and Jan Planknar of Kynšperk.

How did the building change over time?

After 1541 the stronghold was rebuilt in Renaissance style under the Špetl family of Prudice. Almost nothing survives from that phase apart from a barrel-vaulted cellar beneath the southeastern corner of the present castle, the last trace of a Gothic tower. By around 1700 the old fortress stood empty, and Vojtěch Libštejnský of Kolovrat chose to replace it entirely. Between 1713 and 1716 the current single-storey, four-wing Baroque castle went up on a rectangular plan, set within its own park.

Who owned the estate afterward?

Ownership passed from the Libštejnský family to the Blümegen family and then to the Schaaffgotsch family, who laid out the surrounding park in the French style and planted a number of rare tree species still found there today. The last aristocratic owners were the princely Thurn-Taxis family, who held the estate from 1874 until 1945. That year, the prince's son was killed by so-called revolutionary guards, and the castle passed into municipal ownership.

What happened to the castle after 1945?

Once nationalised, the building was put to a string of practical uses: municipal offices, a school, a kindergarten, and residential apartments. At one point the former stable building next to the castle was converted into a dance hall.

Can visitors go inside today?

Only the northern wing of the castle is currently inhabited; the rest of the building stands empty and continues to deteriorate. The park, originally laid out in the French style and still home to some notable old trees, is neglected and no longer maintained. The property remains in private hands, and access to the interior and grounds is limited, so the best way to experience the site is from the outside, combined with a visit to the neighbouring Church of St. Peter and Paul, which holds the Thurn-Taxis family tombs.

Frequently asked questions

Is Biskupice Castle open to the public? There is no regular ticketed visiting here — part of the building is inhabited and the rest is deteriorating, so the interior is not accessible to tourists.

How old is the castle? The Baroque building seen today was built between 1713 and 1716, but the site's history goes back much further: the first stronghold was raised here between 1493 and 1505, on land that had belonged to the Bishopric of Olomouc since the 13th century.

Who was the last owner of the castle? The princely Thurn-Taxis family owned the estate from 1874 until 1945, after which it passed to the local municipality.

What else is worth seeing nearby? The Church of St. Peter and Paul stands right beside the castle and contains the Thurn-Taxis family burial vault, while the town of Jevíčko, about 4 km away, adds a historic market-town core to a visit.