Římov Castle

Římov Castle sits at the heart of the small village of Římov, about 12 km south of České Budějovice in South Bohemia, close to the local hamlet of Dolní Stropnice.

Where exactly is the castle located?

The building stands in the center of Římov village, along the road connecting České Budějovice with Trhové Sviny. The surrounding countryside is quintessentially rural South Bohemian landscape — gentle hills, scattered farmland, and the nearby Malše river. This quiet, almost pastoral setting is one reason the castle has long stayed out of the regional spotlight, even though its story reaches back to the 17th century.

How did a medieval stronghold become a Baroque residence?

In 1626, Jan Oldřich of Eggenberg acquired the local fortress along with its farmstead and the surrounding village. That same year he handed Římov over to the Jesuit college in Český Krumlov, a decision that shaped the site's fate for the next century and a half. The Jesuits were not content with the old defensive stronghold: between 1671 and 1691 they replaced it with a new residence built in the Baroque style. The result was a two-story, two-wing building with a tower, flanked by farm outbuildings — a layout typical of monastic residences of the period, combining living quarters with working farm space.

What happened to the castle after the Jesuit order was dissolved?

The year 1771 marked a turning point: the Jesuit order was abolished, and the Římov estate passed into the hands of the state Religious Fund. Three decades later, in 1801, the property was bought by Prince Josef of Schwarzenberg, bringing Římov into the orbit of one of Bohemia's most powerful aristocratic families. The 19th and 20th centuries brought frequent changes of ownership, and the residence gradually lost its representative status. After 1948 the building became state property, administered by the local national committee, and served rather mundane purposes — housing apartments, a kindergarten, and even a military conscription office. Since 1958 the castle has been listed as a protected cultural monument, safeguarding it from further decline.

What connects the castle to the historian Bohuslav Balbín?

The name of Bohuslav Balbín, one of the most important Czech historians and writers of the Baroque era, is tied to Římov — he spent time at the residence during his life. The village is also known for two other features rooted in its Jesuit heritage: an elaborate nativity scene (betlém) and a Baroque Way of the Cross laid out across the surrounding landscape, one of the best-known examples of its kind in the Czech Republic.

Frequently asked questions

How far is Římov Castle from České Budějovice? About 12 kilometers south, along the road toward Trhové Sviny.

Who built the castle's current Baroque form? Jesuits from the college in Český Krumlov, who erected the residence between 1671 and 1691 on the site of an older medieval fortress.

Who owned the castle after the Jesuit order was dissolved? After 1771 the estate was managed by the state Religious Fund, and from 1801 it belonged to the Princes of Schwarzenberg.

Since when has the castle been a protected monument? The building has been listed as a Czech cultural monument since 1958.