Hrubšice Castle

Hrubšice Castle is a Renaissance chateau standing on the eastern edge of the village of Hrubšice, by the Jihlava river, within the municipality of Ivančice in the Brno-venkov district of Moravia. Its plain exterior hides a striking arcaded courtyard, and its history stretches back to the Middle Ages.

Where exactly is the castle located?

The building sits at the eastern edge of Hrubšice, a small village administratively part of the town of Ivančice, close to the Jihlava riverbank. It's a quiet, rural corner south of Brno, away from the region's main tourist routes. The village of Hrubšice itself is first recorded in documents as early as 1225, though the fortified seat that later became the castle was built somewhat later.

What stood here before the castle was built?

The site was originally home to a tvrz — a fortified manor house — documented from the first half of the 14th century. Around 1350 it belonged to Hartinek of Vejtmíle, and by the end of the 14th century it had passed to Beneš of Kravaře, then owner of the nearby Moravský Krumlov estate. In the 15th century the seat was held by the Hrubšičtí of Čechtín family, and from 1530 by Václav of Hodice. Ownership changed hands repeatedly, which was typical for smaller noble estates in Moravia during that period.

When and how did the Renaissance castle come about?

The turning point came in the second half of the 16th century, when Hrubšice became an independent estate under the Lords of Lipá — held from 1558 by Oldřich of Lipá. It was he who began converting the old tvrz into a Renaissance residence. Construction most likely wrapped up shortly after 1598, the same year Hrubšice was reattached to the Moravský Krumlov domain. The layout established at that point has largely survived to the present day.

What happened to the castle in later centuries?

From the 17th century onward, Hrubšice gradually lost its standing as an independent noble seat, and the castle stopped functioning as a representative residence. In the 19th century the building was converted into housing for estate officials. That residential use continued into the communist era, when the castle also held offices, a kindergarten, and a shop alongside the apartments — a common fate for many small Moravian chateaux after 1948.

What does the castle's architecture look like?

Hrubšice Castle is a single-storey building with four wings enclosing an inner courtyard. From the outside it looks plain, with no towers or ornate facade decoration. The interior tells a different story: the courtyard is lined with arcaded galleries resting on Tuscan columns, a feature typical of Moravian Renaissance residences from the turn of the 16th and 17th centuries.

Can the castle be visited today?

Hrubšice Castle is privately owned and is not generally open to visitors in the way a museum would be. The current owner is carrying out renovation work, preparing the building for partial commercial use. For anyone exploring the area around Ivančice, it remains mainly a sight to admire from the outside rather than a destination for regular interior tours.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Hrubšice Castle located? On the eastern edge of the village of Hrubšice, part of the town of Ivančice, in the Brno-venkov district, by the Jihlava river.

Who built the castle as it stands today? Oldřich of Lipá, who held Hrubšice from 1558, began converting the earlier fortified manor into a Renaissance castle; the work was likely finished shortly after 1598.

What stood on the site before the castle? A medieval tvrz, documented from the first half of the 14th century, held over time by owners including Hartinek of Vejtmíle, Beneš of Kravaře, and the Hrubšičtí of Čechtín family.

What was the castle used for in the 19th and 20th centuries? Mainly as housing for estate officials, and during the communist era also as offices, a kindergarten, and a shop.

Can visitors go inside the castle? No — it is privately owned, currently under renovation, and not open for regular public tours.