Moravský Krumlov Castle

Moravský Krumlov Castle is a Renaissance château in the South Moravian town of Moravský Krumlov, in the Znojmo district, best known as the long-time home of Alfons Mucha's celebrated Slav Epic.

Where is the castle and why is it significant?

The building stands in the centre of Moravský Krumlov, in the South Moravian Region, at roughly 49.049 N, 16.307 E. For decades this modest town has drawn art lovers from across the Czech Republic and abroad, thanks to housing one of the most monumental painting cycles in Central European art history.

How did a stronghold become a Renaissance residence?

The present château stands on the site of an earlier medieval stronghold. Its current Renaissance form dates from a 16th-century rebuilding carried out by its then owners, the lords of Lipé. The Italian architect Leonardo Garo de Bisono left his mark on the project, visible in several of the château's architectural details. From 1624 onward, the estate's fortunes were tied to the House of Liechtenstein, who held it for the following centuries.

Who was Princess Eleonora?

Among the château's most notable residents was Princess Eleonora of Liechtenstein, a lady-in-waiting to Empress Maria Theresa. She was remembered not only for her beauty but for an enlightened approach to managing the estate — it was on her initiative that the château park was laid out, and it remains an important part of the grounds today.

Why is the castle linked to Alfons Mucha?

Starting in 1910, Alfons Mucha spent nearly eighteen years creating his life's masterwork, the Slav Epic — a cycle of twenty large-format canvases, painted mostly at Zbiroh Castle. Half of the paintings depict the history, faith, and culture of the Czech nation, while the other half portray the broader history and mythology of the Slavic peoples. From 1950, Moravský Krumlov Castle took on the role of caretaker for this cycle, displaying the canvases to the public for decades.

What happened to the paintings in recent years?

Between 2011 and 2021, the Slav Epic was on display in Prague, at the Trade Fair Palace, while the château itself underwent a thorough renovation of its interiors to meet strict modern conservation standards required for exhibiting such large and sensitive works. Once the work was finished, the cycle returned to Moravský Krumlov. In August 2025, Prague's city council decided to extend the loan of the paintings to the château until 2031, meaning admirers of Mucha's work can continue to see the cycle at the site most closely associated with it.

What should visitors know before a visit?

The château offers two layers of interest at once — the Renaissance architecture built under the lords of Lipé and later the Liechtensteins, and an exceptional collection of paintings that gives the site international significance. It is a rare combination: a historic monument in its own right that also functions as a gallery holding one of the defining works of Czech modernist art.

Frequently asked questions

What is Moravský Krumlov Castle known for housing? Since 1950, the château has been the custodian of Alfons Mucha's Slav Epic, a cycle of twenty large-format paintings depicting Slavic history.

Who rebuilt the château into its Renaissance form? The lords of Lipé carried out the rebuilding in the 16th century, with Italian builder Leonardo Garo de Bisono contributing to the architecture. From 1624, the House of Liechtenstein held the estate.

Who was Princess Eleonora of Liechtenstein? She was a lady-in-waiting to Empress Maria Theresa and the person behind the creation of the château's surrounding park.

Are Mucha's paintings permanently on display at the castle? Between 2011 and 2021 the cycle was exhibited in Prague while the château's interiors were renovated. After returning to Moravský Krumlov, its loan was extended in August 2025 through 2031.