Rudolec Castle

Rudolec Castle is a former Renaissance manor standing in the village of Rudolec, in the Žďár nad Sázavou district of the Vysočina Region in the Czech Republic. The village was historically known as Německý Rudolec (German Rudolec), to distinguish it from Český Rudolec, a separate place in South Bohemia.

When was the first fortified building here recorded?

The earliest documented structure on the site is a fortified manor house, or tvrz, first mentioned in 1480 as the seat of the Šabart family of Rudolec. Part of that original building survives inside the present castle: a massive, block-like construction with unusually thick walls, containing four vaulted rooms that still form the core of the complex.

How did the medieval manor become a Renaissance castle?

In the 1550s the estate passed to the Chroustenský family of Malovary. Jan Rafael Chroustenský of Malovary inherited the property, then still called Německý Rudolec, from his father Václav Chroustenský after the latter's death. Under the Chroustenský family a new west wing with three Renaissance vaults was added, along with an adjoining farmyard, and the building grew into a three-wing structure enclosing an arcaded courtyard. A polygonal, prism-shaped tower dates from this same period.

Why did the estate pass to the Collalto family?

Petr Rafael Chroustenský took part in the Bohemian Estates uprising against the Habsburgs, and after the revolt was crushed, his property was confiscated. In 1622 the Německý Rudolec estate, together with the neighbouring estate of Černá, was handed to Rambaldo XII of Collalto for 68,000 Moravian thalers. The Collalto family went on to hold the castle for the next three centuries, until 1945.

What changes did the Collalto family make to the building?

The most extensive work dates to the 1650s, under Claudius Collalto. The castle gained rusticated arcades and its distinctive facade, with corner rustication set on a rough sandstone render, plus window surrounds in an archaising Florentine style. The two remaining wings of the courtyard, until then used for farm purposes, were built up and converted into living quarters, giving the castle its final four-wing layout. The Collaltos also built a chapel dedicated to Saint Anne on the grounds; only its liturgical furnishings have survived to the present day. In the 1720s, one of the towers was found unstable, taken down, and rebuilt.

Why did Rudolec lose its status as the family's main residence?

Once the Collalto family built a grander new castle at nearby Černá in the mid-17th century, Rudolec stopped functioning as the family seat. The building was downgraded to administrative and farm use, housing estate officials and serving partly as farm premises. The shift is reflected even in the estate's name, which changed from "Rudolec estate" to "Černá estate."

Can visitors tour Rudolec Castle today?

No. The castle is currently closed to the public. In recent years it was modernised for wellness stays, operating under the name "Zámek zdraví Rudolec" ("Health Castle Rudolec") through a company based in Plzeň. A sign bearing that name still hangs at the gate, but the building itself stands abandoned, and its interior is not open to visitors.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Rudolec Castle located? In the village of Rudolec, in the Žďár nad Sázavou district of the Vysočina Region — not to be confused with Český Rudolec, a different village in South Bohemia near Dačice.

Who built the first structure on this site? The Šabart family of Rudolec, whose fortified manor house, documented from 1480, forms the oldest surviving part of today's castle.

Which family turned the manor into a Renaissance castle? The Chroustenský family of Malovary, starting in the 1550s. The Collalto family completed the transformation after 1622, when they took over the estate confiscated from the Chroustenskýs.

Is Rudolec Castle open to tourists? No. After an unsuccessful attempt to run it as a wellness retreat, the castle has been standing empty and closed to visitors.