Troubsko Castle

Troubsko Castle is a Renaissance manor house built on the site of a medieval fortified residence, standing on the western edge of the village of Troubsko in the Brno-venkov district, South Moravian Region. It sits only a short drive southwest of Brno, making it an easy add-on to a day exploring the area around the city — though it's worth knowing upfront that today it is mainly a building you view from the outside.

How did the castle come to be?

Before the current building, the site held a Gothic fortified manor (tvrz), first recorded in written sources at the end of the 15th century. Construction of the Renaissance castle itself began in 1573 under the estate's then-owner, Jan Munka, with the work carried out by the Brno builder Antonio Gabri. The original plan called for a closed, four-wing layout around an arcaded courtyard, but only two mutually perpendicular wings were ever finished — the rest of the design was never completed.

What changed in the 17th and 18th centuries?

Around 1660 the property underwent early Baroque alterations: a rectangular tower with a gateway passage was added on the approach road, surrounded by farm buildings serving the estate. A further chapter opened with Tomáš Jan Sekora of Seckenberg, who took over the Troubsko estate in 1735 and laid out a modest park beside the castle; a chapel was added to it in 1766.

What do the park and pavilions look like?

In the early 19th century the park was thoroughly renovated and two castle pavilions were built alongside it. It is the castle's north facade, together with its arcaded galleries and the two pavilions, that closes off the courtyard on that side, with one pavilion — built as a viewing point — standing over the northern parterre of the park. This layout has largely survived and remains the most recognizable part of the complex as seen from the park side.

What happened to the castle in the 20th century?

After the Second World War the estate was confiscated from its then-owner, Bedřich Hochberg, and taken over by a neighboring state farm. It was only after 1989 that the castle was returned to Hochberg's descendants, who subsequently sold the property on to new owners. Today the building — listed as a cultural monument of the Czech Republic — is in poor structural condition and its interior is not open to visitors.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you visit the inside of Troubsko Castle? No — the interior is closed to the public, and the building's technical condition is currently poor. It can be viewed from the outside while walking around the former park grounds.

How do you get to the castle from Brno? Troubsko lies just southwest of Brno, right next to the D1 motorway, so the drive typically takes well under half an hour.

How is the current castle different from the original fortified manor? The tvrz was a medieval fortified residence first mentioned at the end of the 15th century. The present castle is a Renaissance rebuilding begun in 1573, later expanded with early Baroque additions.

Is there still a park around the castle? Yes — the castle was once surrounded by a planned park with pavilions, laid out in the 18th century and renovated in the early 19th century. Its layout is still partly recognizable today, though it is not maintained as a formal visitor attraction.