Jimramov Castle

Jimramov Castle is a Renaissance chateau standing in the historic core of the small Czech market town of Jimramov, right on the old border between Bohemia and Moravia, in the Žďár nad Sázavou district of the Vysočina Region. The building rises next to the town square, beside the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, and ranks among the most notable landmarks in the area.

Who built Jimramov Castle?

The residence was commissioned by Pavel Kathan of Katharu, a burgrave of the Margraviate of Moravia. He bought the Jimramov estate in 1588, and since no suitable seat existed on site, he had the oldest surviving part of the chateau built in 1593. What emerged was a two-wing Renaissance building with arcades.

A stone commemorative plaque still survives above the entrance, bearing three coats of arms. On the left is the coat of arms of Lidmila Kitliczowna of Rudolec, Pavel's first wife, who died in 1586. The central shield belongs to the founder himself, while the one on the right represents Krizelda Cegkowna of Wolbramowice, his second and final wife.

How did later owners change the building?

After the Kathan family, the estate passed through the hands of several noble families - the Kolovrats, the Bornstädts, and later the Belcredis. It was the Belcredi family that carried out the last major remodeling: they added a western wing and gave the interiors and facade a Classicist appearance.

The ownership history also mirrors the turbulent 20th century in the region. After 1948, the Belcredi family's property was confiscated, and a school was set up inside the chateau. It was only in 1991, as part of post-communist restitution, that the building was returned to the Belcredi family.

Can visitors go inside the castle?

Today the chateau is privately owned and its interior is closed to visitors. It is nonetheless listed as an immovable cultural monument of the Czech Republic, which protects its structure and surroundings from uncontrolled alteration. Travelers can still admire the building from the outside while walking through Jimramov's historic square - the Renaissance arcades and the Classicist facade are both clearly visible from street level.

What else is worth seeing nearby?

Right next to the chateau stands the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary. A church already stood on this spot in the 13th century, and the first written mention of Jimramov itself dates back to 1361. The building received its current Baroque form during a reconstruction carried out between 1707 and 1715 by architect Petr Paurus of Myslibořice. Its interior is Rococo in style, and the main altar is decorated with a painting of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary by the painter J. Havelka, dated 1755.

The entire historic center of Jimramov, with the chateau and the church as its main landmarks, is protected as an urban heritage zone (městská památková zóna).

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the castle located? The chateau stands in the center of the market town of Jimramov, in the Žďár nad Sázavou district of the Vysočina Region, right next to the local parish church.

Are Sedliště and Jimramov the same place? Sedliště is one of five constituent parts of the market town of Jimramov, with a population of around 109 according to the 2021 census. The chateau itself stands in the central, historic part of the town rather than in Sedliště proper, but both places belong to the same municipality.

Who founded the castle? Pavel Kathan of Katharu, a burgrave of the Margraviate of Moravia, who purchased the estate in 1588 and built the oldest part of the chateau in 1593.

Is it possible to enter the building? No - the chateau is private property and closed to visitors. It can only be viewed from the outside.

What architectural style does the castle represent? The oldest part is Renaissance in character, with arcades and a two-wing layout, while later rebuilding - especially under the Belcredi family - introduced Classicist features to the facade and interiors.