Napajedla Castle

Napajedla Castle is a two-part manor complex in the town of Napajedla, in the Zlín Region of Moravia, now operating as a hotel set inside an extensive park. Its story stretches back to the fourteenth century, and its best-known chapter involves a stud farm of English thoroughbred horses founded in the nineteenth century.

Where is Napajedla Castle located?

Napajedla is a small Moravian town in the Zlín Region, a short drive from the city of Zlín. The castle complex sits on the edge of the town along the Morava River and consists of two distinct buildings from different eras: an older Baroque residence and a younger, later Baroque palace that now serves as the main building.

What is the history of the castle?

The earliest record of a fortified structure on the site dates to 1344, when a Gothic stronghold served as the seat of local feudal lords. In 1611 the Napajedla estate was purchased by Jakob z Rottalu, a member of an old Styrian noble family, from the Mol z Modřic family. It was the Rottals who, in the mid-seventeenth century, replaced the older buildings with a Baroque residence now known as the Old Castle.

More than a century later, between 1764 and 1769, the estate's owner Anna Maria z Rottalu commissioned a far grander residence - the New Castle. The design of this late Baroque palace came from Brno architect František Antonín Grimma, while the construction itself was overseen by master builder Antonín Slováček, known as Mates. Work on the estate continued under the owners who followed.

Who owned the castle over the centuries?

After the Rottal line died out, Napajedla passed through several hands, including the Kobenzl, Stockau, and Baltazzi families. One particularly notable chapter belongs to Aristides Baltazzi (1853-1914), who in 1886 established a stud farm for English thoroughbred horses on the estate. That stud is still regarded today as the most significant of its kind in the Czech Republic and remains one of the Baltazzi family's most visible legacies in the region.

Shortly before the Second World War, the castle was bought at auction by the Baťa family, the well-known Czech industrial dynasty. Until 1939 they used the residence as a representative venue for their company, hosting meetings and receptions for business partners there.

What can visitors see today?

The entire castle complex in Napajedla is now protected as a cultural monument and remains privately owned. The New Castle operates as a hotel and a venue for commercial and social events - conferences, weddings, and celebrations - set within its large historic park. Visitors can admire the late Baroque architecture from the outside, walk through the park's tree-lined paths, and, in many cases, book a stay to see the palace interiors as hotel guests.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Napajedla Castle? In the town of Napajedla, in the Zlín Region of Moravia, Czech Republic, a short distance from the city of Zlín.

When was the castle built? A fortified structure already stood on the site in 1344. The Baroque Old Castle was built in the mid-seventeenth century, and the current, later Baroque New Castle dates from 1764-1769.

Who designed the New Castle? The design came from Brno architect František Antonín Grimma, with construction led by master builder Antonín Slováček, known as Mates, on behalf of Anna Maria z Rottalu.

Who was the castle's most notable owner? Aristides Baltazzi, who in 1886 founded a stud farm for English thoroughbred horses at the estate - still considered the most important stud of its kind in the Czech Republic.

Can the castle be visited today? The castle is privately owned and functions as a hotel and event venue, so the interior is mainly accessible to guests staying there, while the surrounding park can be visited as part of a trip to the town.