Tršice Castle

Tršice Castle is a compact, three-wing, one-storey chateau standing at the heart of the village of Tršice, roughly 10 km east of Olomouc. The neighbouring village of Zákřov, about a kilometre further east, belongs to the same municipality, which is why the two names are sometimes mentioned together even though the chateau itself sits in the centre of Tršice.

Where did the chateau come from?

A Gothic fortified manor once stood on the site of today's chateau, most likely built sometime between 1318 and 1339 and first recorded in written sources in 1377. The manor's founding charters have not survived — they were destroyed by fire in 1642 during the Thirty Years' War, which is why the earliest chapters of the building's history remain sketchy.

Who owned the estate over the centuries?

After the death of Unka of Tršice, sometime after 1399, the estate passed to Margrave Jošt. By 1405 it had already been bought by Lacek of Kravaře, lord of Helfštejn. Ownership changed again before 1465, when the manor belonged to the knight Bohuslav of Kokory. The most lasting change came in 1568, when the estate was acquired by the Bishopric of Olomouc, which held it for the better part of the next three centuries.

How did the fortified manor become a chateau?

The decisive rebuilding took place in 1532, when two southern wings of the old manor were merged into a single wing, giving the complex a Renaissance character and turning a defensive stronghold into a residence. Between 1581 and 1848 the chateau served as the seat of ecclesiastical authority and as an administrative building for the bishopric's estates in the area.

What happened to the chateau in the 19th and 20th centuries?

Fire damaged the building in 1830, and its reconstruction gave it the late Empire-style appearance it retains today. Since 1958 the chateau has been protected as a listed cultural monument. It now houses the municipal office, a ceremonial hall used for events such as weddings, a village museum and the local library — functioning less as a tourist sight and more as the everyday civic hub of the whole municipality.

Frequently asked questions

When was the original fortified manor at Tršice built? It was most likely founded between 1318 and 1339, with the first written mention appearing in 1377.

Which owner held the estate the longest? From 1568 until the mid-19th century the property belonged to the Bishopric of Olomouc, which turned the chateau into a seat of church authority.

When did the manor become a Renaissance chateau? The key rebuilding took place in 1532, when two southern wings were joined into one.

What can visitors see at the chateau today? The building houses the municipal office, a ceremonial hall, a village museum and the local library — it functions as a living administrative and cultural centre rather than a museum piece.

How is the chateau connected to Zákřov? Zákřov is a neighbouring village about a kilometre away, part of the same municipality as Tršice, though the chateau itself stands in the centre of Tršice.