Lysice Castle

Lysice Castle (zámek Lysice) is a Renaissance-and-Baroque château in the village of Lysice, in the South Moravian Region of the Czech Republic, close to Blansko and Boskovice on the edge of the Moravian Karst. It ranks among the region's best-preserved noble residences and has held the status of a National Cultural Monument of the Czech Republic since 2002.

How did Lysice Castle come to be?

The site's history goes back to around 1480, when the Lords of Kunštát built a fortified stronghold here. In the mid-16th century, Diviš Černčický of Kácov rebuilt it into a Renaissance water fortress — a defensive residence ringed by a moat. The western wing and the moat visible today still recall that original, defensive layout. In the early 17th century, the Březnický family reshaped the stronghold into a Renaissance château with arcaded courtyards, a style typical of Moravian aristocratic architecture of the period.

A further transformation came in 1730, when Antonín Amatus Sereni commissioned the richly decorated Baroque facades of the south and east wings — likely designed by the noted architect Mořic Grimm, known for several other Moravian commissions.

Who were the Dubský von Třebomyslice family?

Around the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries, the château passed to the Dubský von Třebomyslice family, one of Moravia's leading noble houses. The first Dubský at Lysice was František Dubský von Třebomyslice, whose wife Antonie, née Piati, inherited the estate after the male line of the Piati family died out. In 1807, under Emanuel Dubský, the château underwent its final major remodeling, giving it much of the appearance it still has today. The Dubský family lived at Lysice continuously until 1945, shaping the interiors and grounds across generations.

What makes the gardens at Lysice so notable?

The château's greatest draw is its expansive garden, laid out in the French formal style with geometric flowerbeds, low clipped hedges, and spherically pruned trees. Its centerpiece is a columned colonnade with a covered pergola, built in 1807 by the mason František Vašíček and his son Kajetan, replacing an earlier Renaissance gallery on the same spot. The garden complex also includes an orangery and a working garden centre, said to be the only one of its kind open to the public within a Czech château garden. Camellias bloom in the orangery as early as February, drawing garden enthusiasts from across the region.

What is Lysice Castle used for today?

After 1945 the estate was nationalized and the château opened to the public as a museum. A thorough restoration between 1966 and 1972 preserved the historic interiors — furniture, paintings, and family heirlooms of the Dubský dynasty — which visitors can now see on guided tours. The National Cultural Monument designation granted in 2002 confirms the château's exceptional importance to the cultural heritage of the South Moravian Region.

For travelers exploring the Moravian Karst and the area around Blansko and Boskovice, Lysice Castle makes a natural stop — pairing centuries of noble residential history with one of Moravia's most picturesque château gardens.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Lysice Castle located? In the village of Lysice, South Moravian Region, near Blansko and Boskovice, on the edge of the Moravian Karst.

Who owned the castle? From the turn of the 18th–19th century until 1945, it belonged to the Dubský von Třebomyslice family, one of Moravia's leading noble houses.

What is Lysice Castle known for? Above all for its extensive French-style garden with a columned colonnade, an orangery, and a public garden centre, along with richly furnished period interiors.

Is the castle a protected monument? Yes, it has been a National Cultural Monument of the Czech Republic since 2002.

Can Lysice Castle be visited? Yes, it operates as a museum with guided tours; check current seasonal opening hours before planning a visit.