Třešť Castle

Třešť Castle is a Renaissance-Baroque château in the Vysočina Region of the Czech Republic, standing in the town of Třešť on the small Třeštička stream. Today it operates as a conference centre and château hotel, run by the Czech Academy of Sciences.

Where exactly is the château located?

The building stands in the Vysočina Region, in the town of Třešť, on the banks of the small Třeštička stream, at a spot where two important medieval trade routes once crossed. Its coordinates are approximately 49.295 N, 15.487 E.

How did the settlement and its first stronghold come about?

The earliest references to the settlement of Třešť date from the late 12th and early 13th centuries, when the crossing trade routes gave rise to the town itself. The first written mention of a fortress here, however, comes only from the second half of the 14th century, when it was held by Záviš of Třešť and Štěpán of Březnice. At the time, the town and its stronghold belonged to the estate of the nearby Janštejn castle, and ownership changed hands fairly often.

How did the estate pass to the Vencelík family?

Between 1358 and 1493, the entire estate belonged to the Šternberk family, though they never actually resided in Třešť, holding more important seats elsewhere. The turning point came in 1490, when Václav Vencelík of Vrchoviště bought the town of Třešť together with its fortress, manor farm, and the villages of Jezdovice and Buková, intending it for his son Matěj.

How did the fortress become a Renaissance-Baroque château?

Starting in 1513, the building underwent a multi-stage rebuilding: the lower level was constructed in Gothic style, the first floor in Renaissance style, and the residential wing in Baroque style. Italian builders were involved in the work, which was completed in 1564 under the then-owner, Kryštof Vencelík of Vrchoviště. What had been a defensive stronghold thus became a representative, multi-style residence.

What did later owners change?

Between 1657 and 1669, the château belonged to the Gayer of Edelbach family, who carried out a partial rebuilding in 1660. Its current Neo-Renaissance appearance is the result of 19th-century works, when the surrounding park — still an important part of the estate today — was also considerably enlarged.

What is happening at the château today?

In 1984, the property was acquired by the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences, the predecessor of today's Czech Academy of Sciences. Following the reconstruction carried out at that time, the château now serves as a conference centre and a château hotel with a restaurant, combining an academic facility with tourism and hospitality.

Frequently asked questions

When was the fortress in Třešť first mentioned? The oldest record dates to the second half of the 14th century and names its owners at the time, Záviš of Třešť and Štěpán of Březnice.

Who rebuilt the fortress into a château? The rebuilding begun in 1513, involving Italian builders, was completed in 1564 by Kryštof Vencelík of Vrchoviště.

Where does the château's current Neo-Renaissance look come from? It results from 19th-century building work, during which the surrounding park was also expanded.

What is the château used for today? Since a 1984 reconstruction, when the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences took it over, it has served as a conference centre and a château hotel with a restaurant.