Krhov Castle

Krhov Castle (Czech: Zámek Krhov) is a modest manor house in the village of Krhov, in the Třebíč District of the Vysočina Region, close to the small town of Hrotovice. The Baroque château seen today grew out of a much older fortified residence, passing through the hands of several noble families and even, for a time in the 19th century, serving as a distillery.

How did the fortified house at Krhov begin?

The story starts in the mid-15th century. After the nearby Holoubek castle fell into ruin between 1440 and 1446, its former owner, Beneš of Krhov, is thought to have built a new fortified house — a tvrz — on the site of today's château. The first solid written record of the building, however, only dates to 1492, by which time it belonged to the lords of Víckov.

When did the tvrz become a Renaissance residence?

At the turn of the 16th and 17th centuries, the estate passed to the Zahrádecký family of Zahrádka, who rebuilt the old fortified house in the Renaissance style. Much of the layout that survives, in altered form, today took shape in this period, including the eastern wing, raised between 1600 and 1620.

What changed under the Roden family?

From 1679 to 1825, Krhov belonged to the Roden family of Hirzenau and Hagendorf. It was under František Roden, in 1759, that the château underwent a thorough late-Baroque reconstruction, reshaping mainly its façades and interiors. By the end of this period, the building had taken on much of its present form: four wings raised across different centuries, with the original defensive tower still visible in the north-eastern corner.

Why did the estate decline after 1825?

Once the Roden line died out, ownership of Krhov changed hands rapidly, passing through the Harnoncourt, Sina and Dreher families. None of them treated the château as a permanent home; it was increasingly used for farm business or as housing for tenants and estate managers. That shift is best symbolised by 1882, when owner Anton Dreher had the north wing converted into a distillery.

What happened to Krhov Castle in the 20th century?

Following postwar land reforms, the estate passed to the Odehnal family. After the communist takeover of 1948, however, the family lost Krhov to the state. Only after 1989, through property restitution, did the château return to the Odehnal descendants, who began a gradual programme of repair and restoration.

Can visitors tour Krhov Castle today?

No — the château remains private property and is closed to visitors on the inside. It can, however, be admired from the outside while walking through the village of Krhov, set in the gently rolling countryside of the Vysočina Region near Hrotovice and Třebíč.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Krhov Castle located? In the village of Krhov, in the Třebíč District of the Vysočina Region, near the town of Hrotovice.

Who built the original fortified house at Krhov? Most likely Beneš of Krhov, after the nearby Holoubek castle fell into ruin between 1440 and 1446.

When did the château take on its current Baroque appearance? Mainly in 1759, through a reconstruction commissioned by František Roden of Hirzenau and Hagendorf.

Why did the castle once house a distillery? Because in 1882 owner Anton Dreher converted the north wing for production use, at a time when the château served mainly farming purposes.

Is Krhov Castle open to the public? No, it is private property and not open for interior visits — it can only be viewed from outside.