Prostějov Castle

Prostějov Castle is a Renaissance chateau standing in the heart of Prostějov, on Pernštýnské náměstí in the Olomouc Region of Moravia. The four-wing building, arranged around a small rectangular courtyard, was raised by the Pernštejn family - one of the most powerful noble houses in Bohemia and Moravia at the time - and its long history of rebuilding, wartime damage and changing owners is still legible in the fabric of the building today.

Who built the castle, and when?

Construction began under Jan IV of Pernštejn in the 1520s, with most of the work completed by the early 1530s. The chateau was originally conceived with defence in mind rather than comfort - its layout and thick walls owed more to a fortified stronghold than a ceremonial residence. It took another generation of the family to turn it into something grander.

How did it become a noble residence?

Between 1568 and 1572, Vratislav II of Pernštejn, then the estate's owner, carried out a major reconstruction that gave the castle the character of a proper aristocratic seat. Arcaded galleries were added along with a monumental stone entrance portal, carved with figures of Vratislav II and his wife and decorated with the coats of arms of the Pernštejn and Šelemberk families. That portal became the single most enduring part of the whole complex.

What survived the Thirty Years' War?

The Thirty Years' War (1618-1648) badly damaged the building, and most of the castle was destroyed. The stone portal from Vratislav II's rebuilding was one of the few elements that came through largely intact - it remains the most recognisable feature of the facade today.

How did ownership and use change over the centuries?

Around the turn of the 16th and 17th centuries the estate passed to Karel of Liechtenstein, whose coat of arms was added to the building in 1604, and the castle also served for a time as a prison. Its role shifted again in the 18th century, when it was used as a granary and as a Jewish prison. Only in the second half of the 19th century, after the Chmelař family bought the property, did the castle start functioning as a cultural venue. It was later acquired by the Prostějov savings and credit association, and an early-20th-century renovation gave the facade its distinctive sgraffito decoration, while a museum was set up in the north wing.

Who owns the castle today, and what can visitors see?

The castle is now owned by the town of Prostějov and is listed as a cultural monument of the Czech Republic. Today it functions mainly as a municipal cultural and educational space - one wing houses the ZUŠ Vladimíra Ambrose art school. A small courtyard and some exhibition halls are freely accessible to visitors, but there are no regularly scheduled guided tours; check current access at the tourist information centre by the town hall on T. G. Masaryk Square.

The chateau anchors Prostějov's historic core and makes a natural starting point for exploring the old town, close to the main square and other sites tied to the Pernštejn era that shaped the town for generations.

Frequently asked questions

Who built Prostějov Castle? The Pernštejn family built the castle, with Jan IV of Pernštejn initiating construction in the 1520s. Most of the work was finished by the early 1530s.

What is the oldest surviving part of the castle? The most recognisable and best-preserved feature is the stone entrance portal from 1568-1572, carved with figures of Vratislav II of Pernštejn and his wife and decorated with the Pernštejn and Šelemberk coats of arms.

Was the castle ever used as a prison? Yes. After the estate passed to the Liechtenstein family around 1600, the building served among other things as a prison, and in the 18th century it was also used as a Jewish prison and as a granary.

Can you visit the castle today? The courtyard and some exhibition halls are freely accessible, but there are no regular scheduled guided tours. Check the tourist information centre at the town hall for current details.

Who owns the castle now? The castle belongs to the town of Prostějov and is registered as a cultural monument of the Czech Republic.