Castle Staré Hobzí

Castle Staré Hobzí is a Baroque manor house with later Classicist touches, standing on the western edge of the village of Staré Hobzí in the Jindřichův Hradec district of the South Bohemian Region, right on the Austrian border in the borderland known as "Bohemian Canada" (Böhmisches Kanada). The two-storey, three-wing building is arranged around a courtyard of honour and is set within a large park alongside its original farm buildings.

Who built the castle and when?

The Baroque building visitors see today goes back to the lords of Deblín. Maximilian Francis of Deblín started construction of a new, representative residence in 1726, and his son Francis Antony of Deblín finished it in 1733 — a date still carved into the facade of the main wing. Before that, the same spot held a Renaissance-era stronghold raised by the Zahrádecký family in the second half of the 16th century: a square building with an enclosed courtyard and arcades. A 1627 inventory of Henry Zahrádecký's estate lists it simply as a "fortalicium," describing residential quarters for the nobility and their stewards alongside a brewery with a malt house and fermentation room, a distillery, and a working farmyard.

What happened to the castle in the 19th and 20th centuries?

Sometime after 1843 the building was reworked in the Classicist style, which is why its facades read as more restrained than a typical Baroque front. After the Second World War the castle lost its residential role entirely and for decades housed a school instead. It has been listed as a Czech cultural monument since 3 May 1958.

Who owns the castle now, and what happens inside it?

The castle is currently privately owned, by foreign owners, and has been renovated into an events-and-hospitality venue. Its representative halls and vaulted rooms now host civil wedding ceremonies and receptions, business conferences and seminars, corporate presentations, private parties, and end-of-year or company-anniversary celebrations. A castle café serves coffee and homemade pastries, and a professional kitchen is available for private chefs or outside caterers. Guests can also stay overnight in air-conditioned apartments equipped with satellite TV, a desk, and a minibar. The surrounding park doubles as an outdoor setting for ceremonies and events.

Can visitors tour the castle?

Staré Hobzí is not run as a museum with fixed opening hours for individual sightseers — it operates as a private venue for weddings, conferences, and short stays. Seeing the interior in practice means attending an event held there or booking one of the apartments, rather than joining a standard guided tour.

Frequently asked questions

When was Staré Hobzí Castle built? The current Baroque building was constructed between 1726 and 1733 for the lords of Deblín, likely on the site of an earlier Renaissance residence belonging to the Zahrádecký family.

What architectural style is the castle? Baroque, with Classicist modifications added after 1843 that are most visible on the facades.

Is the castle a protected monument? Yes, it has been listed as a Czech cultural monument since 3 May 1958.

What was the castle used for after World War II? It served as a school for a number of years before passing into private hands and being restored.

Can you host a wedding or conference at the castle? Yes — it now operates as a commercial event venue with representative halls, a café, a catering kitchen, and guest apartments.

Where exactly is Staré Hobzí Castle located? On the western edge of the village of Staré Hobzí in the Jindřichův Hradec district (South Bohemian Region), close to the border with Austria.