Dobrohoř

Dobrohoř is a small Classicist chateau on the edge of the village of Staré Město pod Landštejnem, in the Jindřichův Hradec district of South Bohemia. Once known by its German name Ebergersch, the building grew out of a 19th-century conversion of an old brewery, and its modest manor-house shape still stands in sharp contrast to the turbulent history of the estate it once belonged to.

Where does the name come from, and when is the place first mentioned?

The village where the chateau now stands appears in written sources as early as 1487, listed as part of the estate belonging to nearby Landštejn Castle. For centuries the property remained tied to that estate, changing hands together with the whole Landštejn domain rather than as an independent holding.

Who owned Dobrohoř in the 18th and 19th centuries?

For a long stretch the estate belonged to the noble Herberstein family. After the death of the last of them, Count Josef, in 1816, the property passed to Otto Herberstein-Moltke. The next change of ownership was not straightforward — only in 1846, after a lengthy court dispute, did Ferdinand von Wenzel gain control of the estate.

How did an old brewery become a chateau?

It was under the next owner, Ferdinand Sternbach, that the former brewery building was converted in 1847 into a single-storey, rectangular Classicist residence topped with a hip roof. The west facade received a five-bay arrangement of pilaster strips, the east facade a four-bay one crowned with a triangular gable. The Sternbach family coat of arms still survives on the front gable, marking the man behind the rebuild. Inside, some rooms kept flat ceilings while others were vaulted, and one room was fitted out as a chapel dedicated to the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary.

What happened to the chateau after 1945?

After the Second World War the estate was confiscated and the building passed under the administration of a state farm. Decades of agricultural use without systematic upkeep left their mark — by the end of the 20th century the chateau had fallen into clear disrepair, with visible structural damage.

When did restoration begin?

A new owner started the first repair works in the early 2000s. Even so, the building remained largely abandoned for years afterward — regional press in the Jindřichův Hradec area was still reporting on its condition in the mid-2010s, noting the arrival of another owner who continued the effort to save it from further decay.

What is the chateau like today?

Dobrohoř now operates as an active visitor destination. It houses a gallery with exhibitions, runs a café and bistro, and offers overnight stays in renovated rooms and apartments on the estate grounds. The chateau also regularly hosts concerts and cultural events, including weekly programs during the summer season. The interiors, including the chapel, are open to visitors during set hours that vary by month — weekend-only openings in May, daily access (except Mondays) through the summer, and a return to weekends-only in autumn.

Where exactly is the chateau located?

Dobrohoř stands on the grounds of a former manor farm on the outskirts of Staré Město pod Landštejnem, a small municipality in the Jindřichův Hradec district, in a region historically tied to the nearby Landštejn Castle.

Frequently asked questions

What is Dobrohoř? A Classicist chateau in South Bohemia, built in 1847 out of a former manor brewery, on the edge of the village of Staré Město pod Landštejnem.

What was the place called before? It was formerly known by the German name Ebergersch.

Who converted the old brewery into a chateau? Ferdinand Sternbach did so in 1847; his family coat of arms is still preserved on the building's front gable.

What happened to the chateau after the Second World War? The estate was confiscated and taken over by a state farm, which over the following decades led to its neglect.

Can visitors tour the chateau today? Yes. It has a gallery, a café, and overnight accommodation, with interiors open to the public during seasonal hours that vary by month.