Castle in Lomnice

The castle in Lomnice (Czech: zámek Lomnice, also known as Lomnice u Tišnova) rises just above the town square in Lomnice, a small town in the Brno-Country District of the South Moravian Region. Řepka, a village annexed to Lomnice in 1996, is one of the town's four constituent parts — so the castle stands within the same municipality as Řepka, just in the main built-up part of town rather than in the village itself.

Where does the name come from, and who held the site first?

The site's history stretches back to the first half of the 13th century, when an early Gothic castle stood here. The earliest known holder of the local stronghold, Oldřich of Lomnice, appears in written sources as far back as 1265, and another member of the same family, Vznata of Lomnice, is recorded in 1281. The Lords of Lomnice gave their name to both the settlement and the fortress that would later grow on this spot.

How did a medieval stronghold turn into a residence?

In the 14th century, an irregular forecourt was added onto the Gothic core, and it still forms the castle's first courtyard today. The real turning point came in 1558, when the estate passed to the Žerotín family. It was Karel the Elder of Žerotín who, at the turn of the 16th and 17th centuries, began converting the old fortress into a Renaissance residence, a project continued by Oldřich of Kounic. In 1665 the property passed to the Serényi family, who held it until 1945. It was the Serényis who gave the building its Baroque character in the 17th century and stripped away what remained of its old defensive fortifications.

What does the castle complex look like today?

The complex extends around two courtyards, with a two-storey palace wing as its centrepiece, separating the two yards. The most valuable architectural feature is the late Gothic chapel of St. Francis Seraphicus, dating to the 15th century, with richly carved stonework, a chancel set in an alcove, and a hanging ribbed vault over the nave — one of the region's better-preserved examples of late Gothic religious architecture.

Can visitors go inside the castle?

No — the building is not open to the public, since it currently houses a secondary vocational school (Střední odborné učiliště a Střední odborná škola). The complex as a whole remains protected as a cultural monument of the Czech Republic, and its courtyards and exterior can still be admired while walking through the town.

What else is worth seeing in Lomnice besides the castle?

The town is dominated by a grand Baroque church, the Church of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary, designed by the architect Giovanni Pietro Tencalla. Lomnice also has a preserved synagogue, now used for exhibitions and cultural events, and a Jewish cemetery — both remnants of the town's once-sizeable Jewish community.

How do you get to Lomnice and Řepka?

Lomnice lies about 8 km from Tišnov, set in the scenic landscape of the Hornosvratecká Highlands not far from Brno. Řepka, as one of the town's constituent parts, sits right next to the main built-up area of Lomnice — a small village of around 60 residents, surrounded by the region's typical rural countryside.

Frequently asked questions

Is the castle in Lomnice open to visitors? No. The building houses a secondary school, so the interior isn't open to tourists — you can only view the castle from the outside.

How old is the castle? Its roots go back to the first half of the 13th century, and the earliest known owner of the site is recorded as far back as 1265. Its current Renaissance-Baroque appearance dates from rebuilding at the turn of the 16th–17th centuries and further work under the Serényi family in the 17th century.

Why is the town called Lomnice while the location is listed as Řepka? Řepka is one of four constituent parts of the town of Lomnice, formally annexed to it in 1996. The castle stands in the main part of town, but administratively it falls within the same municipality as Řepka.

What else is worth seeing nearby? The Baroque Church of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary by Giovanni Pietro Tencalla, the former synagogue, and the Jewish cemetery — all within short walking distance of the castle.