Studená Castle

Studená Castle stands on Tyršova street in the small town of Studená, in the South Bohemian Region's Jindřichův Hradec district. It is a modest, two-storey chateau that grew out of a medieval fortress, spent centuries tied to the fate of nearby Telč, and today serves a social rather than a touristic purpose.

What stood here before the castle?

An oval-shaped fortified manor, known as a "rovinná tvrz," occupied the site long before the present building — the earliest written record dates to 1378. The estate of Studená changed hands repeatedly in the following decades: the Hradec family sold it in 1365 to Dětřich of Obrataně, who passed it on to Domaslav of Horní Olešná in 1378. Before 1407 the property came under the lords of Miličín, one of whom, Pavel of Miličín — later bishop of Olomouc — sold the manor to Václav of Sedlejov in 1446. By the mid-15th century ownership had shifted to the Studenský family, under whom the settlement grew into a market town.

How did the fortress become a Renaissance castle?

The turning point came in 1558, when Jan Studenský sold the manor, together with its brewery and distillery, to Jáchym and Zachariáš of Hradec, the lords of Telč. From that year until 1849, Studená's fortunes were tied directly to the Telč estate. Around 1600, Zachariáš of Hradec rebuilt the old fortress into a compact, two-storey Renaissance castle, which the later owners of Telč used through the 17th and 18th centuries as a retreat for leisure and entertainment.

Who owned the castle in more recent centuries?

After 1796 the estate passed to the Podstatzky-Lichtenstein family. From the early 20th century the castle served as the administrative seat for the family's extensive landholdings across the region. The property was confiscated after 1948, and during the communist era the building was used for various official purposes.

What happened to the castle brewery?

Behind the main building stand outbuildings and a former brewery closely linked to the castle's history. Beer production in Studená may go back as far as 1557, with written confirmation from 1668. By 1758 the brewery belonged to Countess Marie of Liechtenstein, and ownership later passed to the Podstatzky family. It was modernized with steam power in 1896. Nationalized in 1945 and privatized in 1992, the brewery finally closed in 1995, ending more than four centuries of continuous production on the site.

What does the castle look like today?

The building has a rectangular floor plan, two storeys, and a roof finished with classicist detailing. Its east facade is divided horizontally by a cornice and vertically by four projecting pilasters. The windows are plain and unornamented, each split into six panes. The ground floor is finished with stone framing, the upper floor with stucco decoration. The whole complex — castle, outbuildings, and former brewery — is listed as a protected Czech cultural monument. The building does not currently operate as a museum or visitor attraction; it is used for social welfare purposes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where exactly is Studená Castle located? In the center of the town of Studená, on Tyršova street, in the Jindřichův Hradec district of the South Bohemian Region, a few kilometers from the village of Domašín.

Can visitors tour the castle? No — the building is not a museum. It currently serves social welfare functions, so its interiors are not open to tourists in the usual sense.

What else is worth seeing nearby? The region around Studená is rich in historic sites, including the castle at Telč, Jindřichův Hradec, Dačice, and Roštejn Castle, all within reasonable travelling distance.

Is the brewery next to the castle still operating? No — production ended in 1995 after more than four centuries of continuous brewing, though the former brewery buildings still stand behind the castle.