Sádek

Sádek Chateau is a former hilltop stronghold, now a chateau, perched on a solitary, cone-shaped hill between the villages of Kojetice and Čáslavice in the Třebíč District of the Vysočina Region. Listed as a protected cultural monument, it has overlooked the surrounding countryside from an elevation of nearly 570 metres for more than seven centuries.

Where exactly is Sádek located?

The chateau stands within the cadastral territory of Čáslavice, on a conical hill between that village and neighbouring Kojetice. The setting belongs to the rolling, wooded Bohemian-Moravian Highlands near Třebíč, terrain where isolated hilltops have long been favoured for fortifications guarding regional trade routes.

What was the original stronghold called, and who built it?

The earliest known record of the castle dates to 1286, when it was known as Ungersberg and belonged to Štěpán of Uher (Stephen of Hungary). The name hints at Hungarian ties in its first documented owner, though the exact circumstances of the stronghold's founding remain uncertain, as with many medieval castles in the region.

Why was the castle captured and destroyed in the early 14th century?

In 1312, troops of King John of Luxembourg seized and partly destroyed the stronghold. According to the medieval Zbraslav Chronicle, the garrison had been plundering the surrounding countryside, prompting the royal response — a reminder of how turbulent conditions could be under the early Luxembourg kings of Bohemia.

Who held Sádek after the stronghold was rebuilt?

Ownership passed through a succession of powerful noble families. From 1387 the castle belonged to the Šternberk family, and from 1399 to the Waldstein (Valdštejn) family, who carried out repairs and strengthened the fortifications. Members of the Pernštejn family — among the most influential Moravian noble houses of the era — also held the estate at points in its history, underscoring its regional importance.

When did the stronghold become a chateau?

The turning point came in the mid-16th century, when the medieval fortress was rebuilt as a Renaissance residence, shifting its purpose from pure defence toward comfortable noble living. Another decisive moment arrived in 1694, when fire damaged the structure. The rebuilding that followed added Baroque features that would remain visible for generations.

How did the chateau's appearance change in the 19th and 20th centuries?

In the first half of the 19th century, Sádek underwent another remodelling, this time in the fashionable Classicist style, simplifying and unifying the building's mass into a more restrained, elegant form. After the Second World War, following the confiscation of the estate in 1945, its last noble owners were forced to leave for good. The building then took on a new role, housing an upper-primary school that operated until 1 September 2007.

Who owns the chateau today, and what does it look like?

Since 2010, Sádek has been owned by Karel Muzikář. Today's chateau is a four-wing, single-storey building arranged around an arcaded inner courtyard, with a chapel and two cylindrical towers — a layout shaped by centuries of rebuilding, from a medieval hilltop castle through a Renaissance and Baroque noble residence to the Classicist adjustments made nearly two hundred years ago.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Sádek Chateau located? On a solitary, cone-shaped hill between the villages of Kojetice and Čáslavice, in the Třebíč District of the Vysočina Region, at an elevation of roughly 568 metres.

What was the original stronghold at Sádek called? Ungersberg — the name under which the castle was first recorded in 1286, when it belonged to Štěpán of Uher.

Why was the castle destroyed in 1312? Troops of King John of Luxembourg captured and partly destroyed it after its garrison was accused of plundering the surrounding area, according to the Zbraslav Chronicle.

When did Sádek take on its present chateau form? It was rebuilt in Renaissance style in the mid-16th century; Baroque features were added after a fire in 1694, and the building gained its Classicist appearance in the first half of the 19th century.

Can Sádek Chateau be visited today? It has been privately owned by Karel Muzikář since 2010; before that, until 2007, the building housed a school. Current visiting arrangements are worth checking directly ahead of a visit.