Červená Lhota Castle

Červená Lhota Castle is a Renaissance castle in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic, rising from a rocky island in the middle of a small lake in the village of Červená Lhota, part of the Pluhův Žďár municipality, about 20 kilometres northwest of Jindřichův Hradec. Its reddish façade and watery setting make it one of the most photographed castles in the country.

Where exactly is the castle located?

The castle stands in the South Bohemian Region, in the small village of Červená Lhota within the Pluhův Žďár municipality, roughly 20 km northwest of Jindřichův Hradec. Its coordinates are approximately 49.246 N, 14.885 E. A causeway connects it to the shore, since the whole building sits on a rocky island in the middle of a lake — one reason it draws so many photographers.

Where does the name and the red colour come from?

The settlement of Lhota was founded in the mid-13th century as part of medieval colonization efforts in the area. The first written record of a fortress here dates to 1465, when Petr of Zásmuky inherited it from his father Ctibor. The name "Červená Lhota" ("Red Lhota") only appears in 1602, taken from the red plaster that covered the façade — a colour that still defines the building today.

How did the fortress become a Renaissance castle?

Around 1530, the estate was bought by the Kába family of Rybňany, minor nobility of the region. Jan Kába commissioned the rebuilding of the old fortress in Renaissance style, following designs attributed to an Italian builder. That project turned a plain defensive stronghold into the kind of representative residence still largely visible today.

What did later owners change?

In 1641, the estate passed to Vilém Slavata of Chlum and Košumberk, a member of one of South Bohemia's most powerful noble families. Between 1641 and 1678, the Slavatas carried out a Baroque remodeling, after which Červená Lhota served as their summer retreat, reached from their main seat in nearby Jindřichův Hradec. A second major transformation followed between 1841 and 1863, when a Romantic, Neo-Gothic reconstruction reshaped both the exterior and the interiors — the work that gave the castle the fairy-tale silhouette it is known for today.

What else is there to see around the castle?

A park surrounds the castle, home to the Chapel of the Holy Trinity. Together, the lake, the rocky island, the park and the chapel form a tightly composed, picturesque scene that has long attracted photographers and filmmakers alike.

What happened to the castle after 1945?

After World War II, in 1945, the estate was confiscated under the Beneš decrees. In 1949, the National Cultural Commission opened it to the public, and Červená Lhota has remained one of South Bohemia's most visited attractions ever since.

Frequently asked questions

Why does the castle stand on water? It was built on a rocky island in the middle of a lake, a defensive arrangement from its original fortress that survived every later rebuilding.

Where does the name "Červená Lhota" come from? The name first appears in 1602 and comes from the red plaster that once covered — and still covers — the castle's façade.

Who rebuilt it as a Renaissance castle? Around 1530, the estate passed to the Kába family of Rybňany, and Jan Kába had the old fortress rebuilt in Renaissance style using an Italian builder's designs.

When did the castle open to visitors? After being confiscated in 1945, it was opened to the public in 1949.