Horažďovice Castle

Horažďovice Castle stands on the site of a medieval stronghold right beside the main square of a small town in southern Bohemia, in the Šumava region. Today the complex houses a municipal museum, a gallery and a tourist information centre, and its architecture layers Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque work added by successive owners.

Who founded the stronghold, and when?

The original Gothic fortress was founded in the 13th century by the Bavor family of Strakonice, alongside the founding of the town of Horažďovice itself. It was a defensive structure built around a closed courtyard, meant to protect a settlement on a trade route through the Otava river valley.

How was it expanded in the Middle Ages?

In the 15th century the estate passed to the Kocovský brothers, who added a massive square tower and extended the defensive system — parts of which survive and are still visible in the building today. In 1483 the estate was acquired by the Švihovský family of Rýzmberk, opening a new chapter for the residence.

When did it become a Renaissance residence?

It was the Švihovský family who converted the plain Gothic fortress into a stately Renaissance residence. This is when the building gained its distinctive arcaded courtyard and Great Hall, decorated with frescoes depicting towns of southern Bohemia — one of the most valuable surviving parts of the interior.

Where does the castle's Baroque look come from?

The next owners, the Šternberk family, carried out a thorough Baroque remodeling between 1681 and 1692. The work followed a design by the Italian builder Solomini, and it is this rebuilding that gave the castle the exterior appearance it retains today.

Who owned the castle last, before 1945?

The last noble family to hold the Horažďovice estate was the Kinský family of Vchynice and Tetov. They kept the castle until 1945, when — as with many similar estates in postwar Czechoslovakia — it passed into state ownership and later into the hands of the town.

What can visitors see inside today?

The castle has been protected as a cultural monument since 1964. The extensive complex north of the main square now belongs to the town and houses the Horažďovice Municipal Museum, a gallery, a tourist information point, a ceramics workshop and the Envicentrum Proud library. Highlights include the frescoed Great Hall, the castle chapel, a lookout tower and a collection of historical puppet-theatre figures. A restaurant also operates on site.

When is the castle open to visitors?

The castle opens seasonally, Tuesday to Sunday in the warmer months and Tuesday to Saturday outside summer: June through September from 9:00 to 17:00, in April, May and October from 9:00 to 16:00, and from November through March also 9:00 to 16:00 but without Sunday opening. Phone enquiries can be made at +420 371 430 633.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Horažďovice Castle? In the centre of Horažďovice, southern Bohemia, in the Šumava region, right next to the town's main square — coordinates 49.32161 N, 13.69885 E.

Who built the original fortress? The Bavor family of Strakonice, in the 13th century, alongside the founding of the town of Horažďovice.

What architectural style does the castle show? It combines Gothic foundations, a Renaissance arcaded courtyard added by the Švihovský family, and a Baroque facade from the 1681–1692 remodeling carried out for the Šternberk family.

What is inside the castle today? The Horažďovice Municipal Museum, a gallery, a tourist information centre, a ceramics workshop, a library and a restaurant.

What are the opening hours? June–September: Tuesday–Sunday 9:00–17:00. April, May, October: Tuesday–Sunday 9:00–16:00. November–March: Tuesday–Saturday 9:00–16:00.

How can visitors contact the castle? By phone at +420 371 430 633.