Vimperk

Vimperk Castle rises above the small town of Vimperk in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic, at the foot of the Boubín massif in the heart of the Šumava mountains. Built in the 13th century, it has passed through the hands of some of Bohemia's most influential noble families and today houses a regional museum.

When was the castle built, and by whom?

The castle was established in the second half of the 13th century by Purkart of Vrchotovy Janovice, burgrave of Zvíkov Castle, on the site of an earlier settlement. By the following century, under the lords of Sulevice, a small town had already grown up beneath its walls - the origin of present-day Vimperk.

How did ownership change over the centuries?

In 1494 the estate passed to the Malovec family of Chýnov, who converted the medieval fortress into a Renaissance-style chateau. Later owners included Jáchym of Hradec from 1553, Vilém of Rožmberk from 1563, and Volf Novohradský of Kolovraty from 1601, who commissioned a further rebuilding. The Eggenberg family took over in 1630, followed in 1698 by the Schwarzenbergs, one of the most powerful aristocratic houses in the Bohemian lands.

Did the castle suffer any damage?

Yes. During the unrest of 1619, at the outset of what would become the Thirty Years' War, rebel troops besieged and damaged the castle. The building was repaired between 1622 and 1624, and the Renaissance appearance it gained then largely defines the structure seen today. The complex also includes the nearby Haselburg bastion, and since 2010 the whole site has been protected as a national cultural monument of the Czech Republic.

What is inside the castle today?

A town museum has operated in the castle since 1961. Since 2015 the site has been managed by the National Heritage Institute, which has carried out extensive restoration work and, from 2019 onward, archaeological research. The permanent exhibitions focus on the natural environment of the Šumava region and on two crafts historically tied to the area: glassmaking and printing.

What is the town of Vimperk like?

Vimperk lies in the Prachatice District of the South Bohemian Region, with a population of roughly 7,300 to 7,900. It sits on the Volyňka River, right on the boundary between the Šumava mountain range and its foothills. The castle, perched above the rooftops, remains the town's most recognizable landmark and is visible from much of the surrounding area.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who founded Vimperk Castle? Purkart of Vrchotovy Janovice, burgrave of Zvíkov, founded the castle in the second half of the 13th century.

Which family owned the castle the longest? The Schwarzenbergs held it from 1698 onward, following shorter periods of ownership by the Eggenbergs (from 1630), the Malovec family of Chýnov (from 1494), and several other noble houses.

Was the castle ever damaged or destroyed? It was besieged and damaged by rebel forces in 1619, which led to a Renaissance-style reconstruction completed in 1624.

What can visitors see at the castle today? A museum dedicated to Šumava's nature and to the region's glassmaking and printing traditions, alongside ongoing restoration and archaeological work led by the National Heritage Institute since 2015.

Is the castle a protected monument? Yes - since 2010 the entire castle complex, including the Haselburg bastion, has held the status of a national cultural monument of the Czech Republic.