Château Zdíkov

Zdíkov Chateau stands at the edge of the Šumava Protected Landscape Area, between the towns of Vimperk and Stachy, in the Prachatice district of South Bohemia. What greets visitors today is a neo-Gothic country residence with a restaurant and hotel inside, but the building started out as a small medieval stronghold guarding the approach to the Šumava forests.

When was the village of Zdíkov first mentioned?

The earliest written record of Zdíkov dates back to 1318, when Vilém Bavor granted the village to the Knights of St John (Johannite) convent in Strakonice. From the mid-15th century onward, the settlement belonged to the large Vimperk estate. On the site of today's chateau stood a modest rectangular fortress measuring roughly 22 by 12 metres, most likely built in the 14th century by the Koc family of Dobrš. The structure is only explicitly documented from 1666, though it was clearly already old by then.

How did the Malovec family come to own it?

In the 16th century the estate passed to the Malovec family, associated with the Chýnov and Vimperk lines. The Malovecs held Zdíkov until 1799, when Jan Malovec sold the property. Over the following decades ownership changed hands several times; Count Ferdinand Pálffy acquired the estate in 1837. The decisive change, however, came in 1846, when the Thun-Hohenstein family purchased Zdíkov.

What did the Thun-Hohensteins build?

The Thun-Hohensteins undertook an ambitious rebuilding of the old, low-lying fortress. Between 1865 and 1868 they extended the building from its original 22 metres to 38 metres in length, added extra storeys crowned with gables, built a new staircase, and raised steep roofs over the whole structure. What had been a modest Renaissance stronghold became the imposing, multi-storey neo-Gothic residence still visible today. The Thun-Hohenstein family administered the estate until 1918, the end of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy.

What happened to the chateau after 1918?

In 1919, under the postwar land reform, the Zdíkov estate was confiscated and placed under the administration of the State Land Office in Prague. A year later the building was bought by a Prague joint-stock company, while the chateau itself was handed over to municipal administration. A local public school was set up inside its walls, and the building served educational purposes continuously until 1975, when a new, modern school building opened in Zdíkov.

How is the chateau used today?

Since 1996 the chateau has been back in private hands. It underwent a complete renovation, with interiors furnished to reflect its historical character. It now operates as a hotel with a restaurant, offering around 30 rooms for one, two or three guests, including family apartments and several suites decorated in period style. The chateau is therefore a working building rather than a monument viewed only from the outside.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Zdíkov Chateau located? In the Prachatice district, on the edge of the Šumava Protected Landscape Area, between the towns of Vimperk and Stachy.

How old is Zdíkov Chateau? A fortress stood on the site as early as the 14th century, though it is only documented by name from 1666. The chateau received its current neo-Gothic appearance between 1865 and 1868.

Who rebuilt the chateau into its current neo-Gothic form? The Thun-Hohenstein family, who bought the estate in 1846, extended the building and added extra storeys between 1865 and 1868.

Can visitors tour Zdíkov Chateau? The chateau operates as a hotel with a restaurant, so access comes through staying overnight or visiting the restaurant rather than a guided historical tour.

Can you stay overnight at Zdíkov Chateau? Yes — since 1996, following a full renovation, the building has functioned as a hotel with around 30 rooms, including family apartments and rooms furnished in period style.