Luhačovice Castle

Luhačovice Castle is a Baroque manor house standing on Masaryk Street in the southwestern part of Luhačovice, a well-known spa town in the Zlín Region of the eastern Czech Republic.

What stood on this site before the castle?

The earliest written record of a fortified tower here dates back to 1412. That original structure did not survive the region's turbulent history - it was destroyed during the wars against Matthias Corvinus, the Hungarian king whose campaigns swept through Moravia in the second half of the 15th century.

When was the current castle built?

The turning point came in 1629, when the Luhačovice estate was purchased by the Serényi family, a Hungarian-Moravian noble house. It took another century, though, before the site took the shape visitors recognize today: between 1730 and 1738, Wolfgang Serényi commissioned a single-story Baroque residence with two wings, a covered entrance staircase, and a clock tower. The estate also included a landscaped park and a chapel dedicated to Saint Joseph.

What role did the castle chapel play in local life?

The Chapel of Saint Joseph was never just a private place of worship for the owning family. From 1784 to 1997 it served as the parish church for the whole town of Luhačovice, which says a great deal about how closely the castle and its grounds were woven into the town's religious and civic life for more than two centuries.

What happened to the castle after 1948?

The Serényi family held the castle, its chapel, and the surrounding outbuildings continuously from the 17th century until the end of the Second World War. In 1948, along with many other private estates across Czechoslovakia, the property was nationalized by the postwar communist government, and the family lost control of the residence for decades.

Is the castle privately owned today?

The situation reversed in 2017, when the castle and its associated property were returned to the descendants of the original owners as part of a restitution process. The returning family chose to renovate the estate gradually, working to restore it after decades under state administration.

Where exactly is the castle located?

The building stands in the southwestern part of Luhačovice, a town best known as a spa resort in the Zlín Region, close to the border with Slovakia. Its position on one of the town's main streets makes it an easy stop for visitors already exploring the spa's Art Nouveau colonnades and bathhouses nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who built Luhačovice Castle? The current Baroque castle was commissioned by Wolfgang Serényi and built between 1730 and 1738, roughly a century after his family acquired the Luhačovice estate in 1629.

Was there an earlier building on the site? Yes. Records mention a fortified tower here as early as 1412, though it was destroyed during the wars against the Hungarian king Matthias Corvinus.

How long did the Serényi family own the castle? The family owned it from 1629 until the end of the Second World War. The state nationalized the property in 1948, and it was returned to the family's descendants in 2017 through restitution.

What was the castle chapel used for? The Chapel of Saint Joseph served as the parish church of Luhačovice from 1784 to 1997, functioning as a place of worship for the wider town, not just for the castle's residents.

Can visitors tour the castle today? The estate is currently in private hands, held by descendants of the Serényi family, who are carrying out a gradual renovation after decades of state ownership.