Nový zámek Jevišovice

Nový zámek (New Castle) stands on the south-eastern edge of Jevišovice, in the South Moravian Region, surrounded by a large park open to visitors year-round.

How did the New Castle come about?

In the early 1680s, Ludvík Raduit de Souches — a French-born military commander in Habsburg service — had a wooden Baroque hunting lodge built south of the town. For decades it served as a retreat for hunting and leisure. When the Ugarte family acquired the Jevišovice estate in 1736, the lodge gained importance, and by the turn of the 19th century it had become the family's main residence, overtaking the medieval Old Castle in the town centre. Its present stone form dates from 1879, when architect Karel Locatelli rebuilt it in a historicizing neo-Gothic style reminiscent of English Windsor-style castles.

What can you actually see there?

The building itself — a rectangular, multi-storey structure with a richly articulated facade and a crenellated tower — has not been open to visitors for decades, since it now houses a retirement home. Touring the interior is therefore not an option, but the surrounding park is worth the trip on its own. Its avenues of mature trees and the courtyard in front of the castle are lined with 22 Baroque statues, moved here after the dissolution of the Premonstratensian monastery in Louka near Znojmo. These stone figures of saints and allegorical scenes, spaced along the walking paths, are the main reason visitors linger here. The whole complex — the castle building, its outbuildings, and the statue collection — has been listed as a Czech cultural monument since 1958.

When should you visit?

The park stays open all year and looks best in spring and autumn, when low light brings out the detail on the statues and the neo-Gothic facade. In summer, the tree-lined avenues offer welcome shade, making a walk pleasant even on hot days. It's easy to combine a visit with the Old Castle in the centre of Jevišovice, a few minutes' walk away, or with a trip to the nearby Jevišovka reservoir.

How do you get there?

Jevišovice lies in the Znojmo district, about 20 km from Znojmo and under an hour's drive from Brno. The easiest way in is by car or regional bus; the New Castle sits on the town's south-eastern edge, within easy walking distance of the main square.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you go inside the New Castle? No — the building has served as a retirement home for years and is closed to visitors. Only the surrounding park is open to the public.

What's the main draw of the castle park? A collection of 22 Baroque statues relocated from the dissolved Premonstratensian monastery in Louka near Znojmo, lining the avenues and the forecourt.

How does the New Castle differ from the Old Castle in Jevišovice? The Old Castle is a medieval structure in the town centre, while the New Castle is a 19th-century neo-Gothic residence on the outskirts, built on the site of an earlier hunting lodge.

Is entry to the park free? Yes, the park is open to everyone year-round with no admission fee, making it an easy stop on a tour of the Znojmo region.