Ježovy Castle

Ježovy Castle stands in the village of Ježovy, in the Klatovy District of the Plzeň Region, within the same municipality that includes the nearby hamlet of Trnčí. The site sits in the Šumava foothills, roughly 11 km north of Klatovy and about 31 km south of Plzeň.

How did the estate begin?

The earliest record of a fortified manor here dates to 1518, when a Gothic tvrz (a small noble stronghold) already stood on the site. In the early 16th century the estate's new owner, Mikuláš Nebílovský of Drahobuze, replaced it with a Renaissance fortress ringed by a water-filled moat. By the close of that century the Nebílovský family's holdings had grown well beyond Ježovy itself, taking in Trnčí, Slatina, Lučice, and Černíkov together with its own fortress.

When did it become a Baroque chateau?

The turning point came in 1663, when Jan Heřman Černín acquired the property. He converted the older stronghold into a Baroque manor house, giving the building much of the layout it retains today. Under Jindřich Černín of Chudenice, a distinctive six-sided chapel was added on the east side of the house. The Černín family kept Ježovy only until 1738, when Jan Heřman Černín's daughters, facing financial hardship, sold the estate to Ferdinand František Morzin. From that point Ježovy was administered as part of the larger Merklín estate, and the Morzin family held it continuously until 1945.

What does the building look like today?

Its present appearance dates to a late-Baroque remodeling carried out in the 17th century. The chateau is a single-storey structure on a rectangular plan, topped with a tall hip roof. Flat, canopy-style pediments crown the windows, each finished with a pine-cone ornament. The six-sided chapel on the east front remains one of the complex's most distinctive architectural features. The building is listed as a protected cultural monument of the Czech Republic.

What is Trnčí's connection to the castle?

Trnčí is a small village about two kilometres southwest of Ježovy, forming part of the same municipality. Historically it belonged to the same landed estate as the castle: by the late 16th century it already appeared alongside Ježovy among the Nebílovský family's possessions. For visitors staying in or passing through Trnčí, the castle in Ježovy is the natural nearby landmark to visit, even though Trnčí itself holds no castle structures of its own.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Ježovy Castle located? In the village of Ježovy, Klatovy District, Plzeň Region, about 11 km north of Klatovy.

Who built the first fortified structure on this site? A Gothic tvrz is recorded from 1518; Mikuláš Nebílovský of Drahobuze commissioned its Renaissance rebuild with a moat in the early 16th century.

When did the castle gain its current Baroque appearance? Jan Heřman Černín converted it into a Baroque manor house starting in 1663, with the building's final late-Baroque form dating to the 17th century.

Who owned the castle after the Černín family? From 1738, following its sale by Jan Heřman Černín's daughters, the estate passed to Ferdinand František Morzin, and the Morzin family retained it until 1945.

Is the castle legally protected? Yes, it is registered as a cultural monument of the Czech Republic.

How is the nearby village of Trnčí connected to the castle? Trnčí lies about 2 km from Ježovy within the same municipality and historically belonged to the same landed estate as the castle.