Castle Lamberk

Lamberk Manor sits about a kilometer northwest of Olešnice, right on the border between the Vysočina and South Moravian regions. It's a small Baroque building put up as a count's summer residence around the turn of the 18th century. These days the manor is closed to visitors and in poor structural condition, but its distinctive silhouette and the surrounding farm buildings still draw travelers exploring the quieter corners near Kunštát.

What the manor looks like today

Lamberk is a two-story Baroque building with a decorated entrance portal topped by the founding family's coat of arms. It forms the southeastern side of an almost hexagonal courtyard enclosed by farm outbuildings — a layout typical of small aristocratic estates built for estate management rather than court life. Walking around the courtyard gives a good sense of how the whole complex once functioned as a working rural estate, not a showpiece palace.

Who built it and why

Count Jan Maxmilián Lamberg built the manor as his summer residence. The arrangement didn't last long: by 1733 the building had already switched purpose, becoming the administrative seat for forestry and farming operations tied to the Kunštát estate. From that point on, Lamberk functioned mainly as an office building serving the surrounding woods and farmland rather than as anyone's home.

What happened to it in the 20th century

In the mid-20th century the manor came under the control of a local agricultural cooperative (JZD), and the building was altered accordingly — postwar modifications reduced its historical authenticity. Ownership eventually passed into private hands, but no restoration followed. The interiors are effectively destroyed today, and the structure is officially described as being in an emergency state.

Can you go inside?

No. The building is closed to the public, and decay continues even under private ownership. Visitors can only view it from the outside while passing through or hiking around Olešnice.

Where it fits on the map

The manor stands roughly 1 km northwest of Olešnice and about 11 km northwest of Kunštát, the estate to which it administratively belonged from the 18th century onward. Sitting right on the border of the Vysočina and South Moravian regions, it makes a convenient stop for anyone combining a visit to the Moravian Karst with a swing through the Vysočina hills.

Frequently asked questions

Is Lamberk a castle or a manor house? It's a small Baroque aristocratic residence — a "zámeček" in Czech, best translated as manor or small country house — not a medieval fortress. That distinction matters here, because the region also has a genuinely medieval Lamberk: a castle ruin above the Oslava River near Náměšť nad Oslavou, once held by the knight Jan Sokol of Lamberk. Despite the near-identical name, these are two completely separate sites.

Can visitors enter the building? No. The interiors are ruined and the structure is in an emergency condition, so it isn't open for tours.

Why is the manor in such bad shape? After 1733 it stopped being a residence and became a forestry and estate administration office, which meant no one invested in maintaining its architectural character. Later use by a farming cooperative and incomplete private restoration attempts since then have left it in continuous decline.

How do you get to Lamberk? The manor is about 1 km from central Olešnice, making it an easy walk or short bike ride from town along local roads and paths heading toward Kunštát.