Nový Rychnov (castle)

Nový Rychnov Castle stands at the edge of the small town of Nový Rychnov, right on the road toward Řeženčice — one of the seven local parts that make up this municipality in the Vysočina Region, Pelhřimov District. The building rises above the Lihovarský pond, directly across from the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, so anyone walking from Řeženčice into the town centre passes right by it.

How did this building come to be?

The first written record of Nový Rychnov dates to 1352, when the settlement belonged to the Červená Řečice estate. Until the Hussite Wars, the whole area was owned by the Archbishopric of Prague. During the Hussite Wars the estate changed hands several times, until in 1431 it passed to Janek z Chotětic. It was here, on the site of an earlier pre-Hussite fortified residence, that the present castle eventually grew.

The real transformation came under the Leskovec family: Vlach Leskovec z Leskovce rebuilt the old fortified seat into a Renaissance castle between 1543 and 1561. A further significant change came from Archbishop Jan Bedřich z Valdštejna, who gave the building a partly Baroque character in 1675. Over more than three centuries the castle thus moved from a medieval stronghold, through a Renaissance noble residence, to a Baroque-influenced manor.

What can you actually see today?

Nový Rychnov Castle is not open to visitors — it now contains private apartments, and the interior is off-limits. So plan for a walk and an outside view rather than a tour of the rooms. The setting makes up for it: the building sits picturesquely above the pond, right next to the historic church, and a stroll along the water lets you see the castle from several angles and pick out traces of its different building phases — from the plainer, defensive core to the more decorative Baroque touches.

How to get there and what else to see nearby?

The castle sits on road II/133, which connects Vyskytná with Řeženčice, making it an easy stop on a driving or cycling route through the Pelhřimov region. Řeženčice, the starting point for several local trails, is one of the seven parts of the Nový Rychnov municipality. Nearby, it is well worth heading up Křemešník hill (769 m above sea level) — the highest point in the Pelhřimov District, located within the Nový Rychnov municipality itself. It is a popular hiking destination and pairs naturally with a walk past the castle on a single day trip.

When is the best time to visit?

Spring and summer are the most rewarding seasons, when the Lihovarský pond and surrounding greenery frame the castle at their best and the walking and cycling routes toward Křemešník are fully passable. In autumn the forests of the Vysočina highlands add extra colour to the area, which landscape photographers in particular will appreciate.

Frequently asked questions

Can you go inside the castle? No — the building now serves as private apartments and is not open to tourists. It can only be viewed from the outside.

Where exactly is the castle in relation to Řeženčice? It stands on road II/133 between Vyskytná and Řeženčice, within the town of Nový Rychnov itself, above the Lihovarský pond — Řeženčice is one of the seven local parts of this municipality.

What architectural style does the building represent? The castle blends several eras: its core goes back to a medieval fortified residence, the 1543–1561 rebuilding gave it a Renaissance form, and the 1675 works added Baroque elements.

What else can be combined with a visit to the castle area? A walk along the Lihovarský pond, a stop at the nearby Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, and a hike up Křemešník hill (769 m) — the highest point in the Pelhřimov District.