Morkovice Castle

Morkovice Castle stands in the small town of Morkovice-Slížany, in the Kroměříž district of the Zlín Region in Moravia, Czech Republic. Today it is a three-storey, three-wing building with arcaded galleries running around its courtyard, the end result of a Gothic stronghold rebuilt in turn as a Renaissance seat, then reworked again in Baroque and Neo-Baroque style. The building is currently closed to visitors, but the sequence of families who owned it and the fate of the estate through the 20th century make it a worthwhile stop for anyone exploring the Kroměříž area.

When was a fortified seat first recorded at Morkovice?

The village itself is first mentioned in 1222, when a document connected to Velehrad Monastery names Zdislav of Morkovice. A fortified seat on the site — the direct predecessor of today's castle — is reliably documented from the mid-14th century, linked to Markvart of Morkovice. Ownership changed hands several times over the following century, until in 1480 the estate passed to the lords of Zástřizl, who would shape the property for the next hundred years.

How did the Gothic stronghold become a Renaissance castle?

It was the Zástřizl family who carried out the building's biggest transformation. Jiří Protivec of Zástřizl, who took over Morkovice in 1583, began rebuilding the old Gothic fortress into a Renaissance residence in 1590. Cylindrical corner towers were added, and the inner courtyard was framed with arcaded galleries — a layout that largely survives to this day.

What changed during the Baroque period?

In the mid-17th century the castle's interiors were reworked in the Baroque style, reflecting the tastes and needs of later owners. Among them, Antonín Braida is credited with further changes carried out in a late Baroque and Rococo spirit. The building therefore passed through several waves of remodeling without losing the Renaissance framework established under the Zástřizl family.

Who owned the castle in the 19th and early 20th centuries?

In 1863 the estate was bought by Countess Leopolda Thun-Hohenstein, and the Thun-Hohenstein family kept Morkovice until 1911. That year, Count Filip Kinský and his wife Marie Kinská-Dubská acquired the property. The new owners carried out a major reconstruction in 1918–1919: they demolished the west wing, removed the clock tower with its belfry, restored the original arcades, filled in the water moat that had previously surrounded the castle, and installed a Neo-Baroque fountain in the courtyard.

What happened to the castle after the Second World War?

After 1945 the castle became state property, a common fate for Czech manor houses under the postwar regime. Over the following decades it housed, at various times, a school, a museum and a health centre. After 1989, during the period of property transformation, the building began to fall into disrepair. Its fortunes turned when it passed into the hands of the company Chapel Invest, which has been carrying out a comprehensive reconstruction of the estate since 1999.

Can visitors tour Morkovice Castle today?

Not at present — the castle remains closed to the public while reconstruction continues, and it is privately owned. There has been talk of eventually opening part of the building to visitors, potentially as a museum exhibition, once the work is finished. Until then, the best way to see the castle is from the outside, on a walk through Morkovice-Slížany.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Morkovice Castle located? In the town of Morkovice-Slížany, in the Kroměříž district of the Zlín Region, in eastern Moravia, Czech Republic.

Is Morkovice Castle open to visitors? No, the building is currently closed to tourists while a private company carries out its reconstruction.

Who built the Renaissance castle at Morkovice? The Renaissance rebuilding of the earlier Gothic stronghold was begun in 1590 by Jiří Protivec of Zástřizl, who had taken over the estate in 1583.

Who was the last private owner before nationalization? From 1911 the estate belonged to Count Filip Kinský and his wife Marie Kinská-Dubská, who carried out a major reconstruction of the castle in 1918–1919.

How was the castle used after the Second World War? As state property it housed, in turn, a school, a museum and a health centre, before falling into disrepair after 1989.