Oslavany Chateau

Oslavany Chateau is one of the oldest continually inhabited chateau complexes in Moravia, and its Renaissance façade hides a past that has almost nothing to do with aristocratic leisure. It stands in the small town of Oslavany, in the Brno-venkov district of the South Moravian Region, and it began life not as a noble residence but as a convent.

How did the chateau's story begin?

In 1225, Heilwiga of Znojmo founded the first women's Cistercian convent in Moravia on this spot, named "Vallis s. Mariae" — the Valley of Mary. Three years later, in 1228, the convent was consecrated by the Archbishop of Olomouc, with King Přemysl Otakar I and his family reportedly present at the ceremony. For nearly two centuries the convent served as an important religious house in Moravia, until the turbulent 15th century brought serious damage: in 1423 it is said to have been burned by Hussite forces.

When did the convent become a chateau?

The property's fortunes changed in 1471, when King Vladislaus Jagiellon granted the right to dispose of it to Vilém of Pernštejn, one of the most powerful noblemen in Moravia at the time. A further blow came in the form of a major fire in 1517, which — paradoxically — opened the way for transformation: the damaged convent buildings began to be converted into a secular residence. The final shape of the complex was given by Kryštof of Althann and his successor Adolf of Althann, who carried out an extensive Renaissance reconstruction between 1580 and 1590. It was during this period that the chateau's signature arcaded courtyard was built — today regarded as one of the largest of its kind in the Czech Republic.

What survives from the original convent?

Despite several centuries of rebuilding, the chateau never fully severed its ties to its monastic origins. The Gothic convent church has survived and, following conversion, now serves as the chateau chapel — the oldest and most authentic surviving fragment of the whole complex, a witness to the site's medieval phase. The rest of the complex carries a distinctly Renaissance character, dominated by the two-tier arcaded courtyard mentioned above.

What can visitors see at Oslavany Chateau today?

The chateau now serves a cultural function, housing museums and exhibition spaces that cover both the history of the chateau and convent itself and the wider history of the surrounding region. A visit therefore combines two threads: the story of monastic life stretching back eight centuries, and the story of the architectural transformations the site underwent under a succession of owners.

Where exactly is the chateau located?

Oslavany lies in South Moravia, in the Brno-venkov district, not far from Brno, in the valley of the Oslava River — which also explains the name of the original convent, the "Valley of Mary." The chateau's coordinates are approximately 49.1269 N, 16.3342 E.

Frequently Asked Questions

Was Oslavany Chateau originally a convent? Yes — it was founded in 1225 as the first women's Cistercian convent in Moravia and functioned as a religious house for several centuries before being converted into an aristocratic residence.

Who rebuilt the convent into a chateau? The Renaissance conversion was carried out in the late 16th century by Kryštof of Althann and Adolf of Althann, after an earlier fire in 1517 had seriously damaged the convent buildings.

What survives from the original convent? The Gothic convent church still stands and now serves as the chateau chapel — the oldest surviving element of the whole complex.

What is the chateau's courtyard known for? Its Renaissance arcaded courtyard, built between 1580 and 1590 and considered one of the largest of its kind in the Czech Republic.

Where is Oslavany Chateau located? In the town of Oslavany, in the Brno-venkov district of the South Moravian Region, not far from Brno.