Castle of Kinský in Valašské Meziříčí

Castle of Kinský in Valašské Meziříčí is a neoclassical manor house in the Zlín region of the Czech Republic, long associated with the noble Kinský family and now home to a regional museum. Standing in the town centre surrounded by a park, it offers a window into both aristocratic history and the more recent story of Czech regional museums.

How did the building take its current shape?

The structure did not start out as a residence. An earlier administrative building belonging to the Rožnov-Krásno estate once stood on the site. In the mid-1850s, that building was rebuilt into a manor house on the orders of Count Eugen Kinský (1815–1885), and it is this reconstruction that gave the castle its present neoclassical (Empire-style) appearance.

Who owned the estate over the years?

Eugen's son, Rudolf Kinský (1854–1921), inherited the property, but lost it at an auction in 1913. The estate's last aristocratic owner was Count Ladislav Seilern-Aspang (1886–1976). During the First World War the building was pressed into service as a military hospital. Afterwards, the Seilern family kept it only as a summer residence — a role it played in 1924, when it hosted Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk, the first president of Czechoslovakia, as a guest. In 1943, the Seilerns sold the castle to the town of Valašské Meziříčí, ending its era of private noble ownership.

What happens inside the castle today?

Since the late 1940s, the building has housed a museum, now operating as a branch of the Museum of the Valašsko Region. Between 2019 and 2022, the castle underwent a major renovation aimed at fixing its poor technical condition and creating new storage, exhibition, and visitor spaces. As a result, the building today combines its historical character with the practical needs of a modern cultural institution.

Where exactly is the castle located?

The castle sits in Valašské Meziříčí, in the Zlín region of the Czech Republic, at coordinates 49.4784319, 17.968335 — a convenient stop for anyone touring the wider Valašsko area.

Who is this destination for?

The castle appeals to visitors interested in Central European aristocratic history, neoclassical architecture, and regional museum collections. It also works well as a stop for travelers spending more time in the Zlín region who want to trace its history — from the Kinský era, through the First World War, to its current life as a cultural institution.

Frequently asked questions

Who built the Castle of Kinský? Its current neoclassical form dates to the mid-1850s reconstruction ordered by Count Eugen Kinský, carried out on the site of an earlier estate administrative building.

Who was the last noble owner? The last aristocratic owner was Count Ladislav Seilern-Aspang, whose family acquired the property after it passed out of the hands of Rudolf Kinský.

When did the town take ownership of the castle? The town of Valašské Meziříčí became the owner in 1943, when the Seilern family sold the property.

What is in the castle now? It has housed a museum since the late 1940s, today a branch of the Museum of the Valašsko Region, following a thorough renovation completed between 2019 and 2022.

Is the castle linked to any notable historical figures? Yes — in 1924 it hosted Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk, the first president of Czechoslovakia.