Ratměřice Castle

Ratměřice Castle sits in the small village of the same name in the Benešov District of Central Bohemia, roughly ten kilometers east of Votice. Unlike many Czech chateaus turned museum pieces, this one lives on as a working hotel and conference venue, which makes it an unusual stop for anyone tracing the region's manor houses.

How far back does the village's history go?

Ratměřice first appears in written records in 1220. By the 14th century the estate belonged to the monastery at Louňovice pod Blaníkem, one of the many Central Bohemian monasteries that administered scattered rural holdings at the time. That arrangement ended with the Hussite Wars: the monastery burned down in 1420, and Ratměřice passed into the hands of a nearby town.

When was the castle itself built?

The building standing today traces back to the early 18th century. The original Baroque chateau was raised by the Kořenský family of Terešov, who held the estate from 1702 to 1719 — a short but decisive stretch during which a manor house replaced whatever had stood there before. Ownership then moved to the barons of Sterndahl, who ran the estate from 1751 to 1830.

What changed the castle in the 19th century?

The Chotek family left the deepest mark on the building's appearance. On 9 August 1853, Countess Chotková transferred the estate to her sons Otto and Rudolf. Otto Ferdinand Chotek (1816–1889) is the one responsible for the classicist reconstruction of the once-Baroque chateau — the shape it still carries today. Otto also laid out the adjoining park in the English landscape style, favoring naturalistic sweeps over the formal French parterres common at the time. After his death the estate passed to his brother Rudolf, who sold it to Josef and Viktoria Černý in December 1898.

Why is the park worth a mention on its own?

The park Otto Chotek created is home to two giant sequoia specimens — the tallest trees of their kind in the Czech Republic. Both were officially declared memorial trees in 2002, a recognition that marks them as botanically significant on a national scale. For visitors with an interest in trees or landscape design, the sequoias are reason enough to detour into Ratměřice.

What is the castle used for today?

After passing through various hands, the property was bought by Tomáš Novák, who set out to buy a country cottage and ended up acquiring the entire historic chateau instead, giving it a new lease on life. It now operates as a privately run hotel and conference center, with a restaurant named Sequoia — a nod to the giant trees in the park — plus wellness facilities. The building remains a protected cultural monument, but functions commercially as accommodation: access is generally tied to a stay or an event rather than a standard guided tour, though guests can walk the park during their visit.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Ratměřice Castle located? In the village of Ratměřice, Benešov District, Central Bohemian Region, about 10 km east of Votice.

Who built the castle? The Baroque original was built by the Kořenský family of Terešov in the early 18th century; its current classicist form dates to a 19th-century reconstruction led by Otto Ferdinand Chotek.

What's the park's main draw? Two giant sequoia trees, declared memorial trees in 2002 and considered the tallest of their species in the Czech Republic.

Can visitors tour the castle? It operates as a private hotel and conference venue with the Sequoia restaurant, so access usually comes through a stay or a booked event rather than a walk-in guided tour.

Is the castle connected to the Chotek family? Yes — Otto Ferdinand Chotek carried out the classicist rebuild and laid out the surrounding English landscape park in the 19th century.