Old Castle in Jevišovice

The Old Castle in Jevišovice is a medieval stronghold perched on a rocky spur inside a bend of the Jevišovka River, in the Znojmo district of South Moravia. Jevišovice actually has two castles standing close together: the Old Castle described here, and the separate New Castle, whose current historicizing appearance dates only from 1899. The Old Castle is the older, plainer structure — partly ruined, partly converted into a museum.

How did the Old Castle come to be?

The very first stronghold at Jevišovice belonged to the Boček family and was built between 1278 and 1288. Catholic forces destroyed it at the start of the Hussite Wars in 1421, and that original castle was never rebuilt. What is known today as the Old Castle was raised in the first third of the 15th century by Sezema, a member of the powerful Kunštát family's Jevišovice branch — effectively the second castle complex on this spot.

How did its architecture develop?

During the 16th and 17th centuries the building reached roughly its present form: a Gothic core extended with Renaissance and early Baroque additions. Owners over the centuries included dukes of the Münsterberg-Oels line of the Podiebrad family, and Jan Ludvík Raduit de Souches (1608–1682), the celebrated military commander who defended Brno against a Swedish siege in 1645. A chapel dedicated to St. Louis, built in 1664, survives on the grounds and is still used today for weddings and concerts.

Why does Jevišovice matter to archaeologists?

The castle hill and its surroundings gave their name to the "Jevišovice culture," an Eneolithic (Late Stone Age / Copper Age) archaeological culture dated to roughly 3100–2800 BC, one of the key chronological markers for the Copper Age in Moravia. Finds from this period, alongside displays covering the castle's own history, are part of the collections shown on site.

What is inside the castle today?

Since 1973 the Old Castle has been administered by the Moravian Museum in Brno (Moravské zemské muzeum). Its permanent exhibitions include a collection of keyboard instruments, regional folk furniture, and displays on both archaeology and the castle's own history. Because the building sits directly on a rock outcrop, visitors reach it on foot along a path from the town side — there is no direct vehicle access to the gate.

When can you visit?

The castle is open seasonally, from May through September, with a full daily schedule in July and August; during the rest of the season it opens on weekends, public holidays, and selected weekdays. Entry requires a paid ticket.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between the Old Castle and the New Castle in Jevišovice? The Old Castle is a Gothic-Renaissance building from the first third of the 15th century, standing on a rock above the Jevišovka River. The New Castle is a separate building with a historicizing appearance dating from 1899 — the two should not be confused.

Has archaeological research been done at the site? Yes. The area gave its name to the Eneolithic "Jevišovice culture," dated to around 3100–2800 BC, one of the important chronological reference points for the Copper Age in Moravia.

Who manages the castle today? Since 1973 the Old Castle has been run as a branch of the Moravian Museum in Brno, with archaeological, historical, and ethnographic exhibitions.

Can you get married there? Yes, the castle still has its 1664 Chapel of St. Louis, used for wedding ceremonies and concerts.

How do you get to the castle? It stands in Jevišovice, in the Znojmo district, on a rocky spur above the Jevišovka River; a footpath from the town leads up to the entrance.