Zámecký park Sokolnice

Zámecký park Sokolnice is a freely accessible landscape park surrounding a former manor house in Sokolnice, barely 11 km from Brno in South Moravia. Laid out in the second half of the 19th century in the English landscape style, it still carries that character today — broad lawns and loosely arranged groups of trees and shrubs, without the strict symmetry of earlier formal gardens.

What stands out in the park

The park's greatest botanical curiosity is a group of pyramidal oaks — slender, narrow-growing trees rarely seen elsewhere in southern Moravia. The grounds connect to the former castle game reserve (bažantnice), through which a nature trail called Naučná stezka Bažantnice runs. The circular route is flat and wide, making it equally suitable for a stroll with a pram or a bike ride.

Where the castle behind the park comes from

The castle that gives the park its name has a much longer history than the greenery around it. A Renaissance fortress originally stood on the site, built in 1560 by its then owner, Petr Sadovský ze Sloupna. In 1705 the estate was bought by Walter Xaver of Ditrichstein, whose successor Jan Leopold had it rebuilt into a two-storey Baroque castle with a chapel, with the involvement of architect František Antonín Grimm. The building took its final shape in the mid-19th century, after the Mitrovský family of Mirovice and Nemyšl purchased the estate in 1843, made it their family seat, and rebuilt it in the Neo-Gothic style — the surrounding park was also created during their ownership.

Can visitors go inside the castle

No. After 1945 the property passed into state ownership and served in turn as a refuge home, a rest home and a retirement home — a role it still fulfils today as a senior citizens' home, which means the interior is closed to visitors. The park itself, however, is open to everyone year-round, with no opening hours or admission fee.

What connects this place to the Battle of Austerlitz

Sokolnice castle witnessed fierce fighting during the famous Battle of Austerlitz in 1805, when the village and its surroundings sat at the very center of the clash. In memory of those events, a large-scale historical battle re-enactment is held in the park every year, drawing history enthusiasts from across the region. The whole castle complex, together with the park and the former game reserve, is today protected as a cultural monument of the Czech Republic.

Frequently asked questions

Is there an entrance fee for the park? No, the park is open to the public year-round, free of charge and without fixed opening hours.

Can the inside of the castle be visited? No, the castle building currently serves as a senior citizens' home and is not open to tourists.

What is the park's main natural attraction? Groups of pyramidal oaks, rare in the region, and a nature trail running through the former game reserve.

Is the park route suitable for prams and bicycles? Yes, the main path is flat and wide, suitable for both strollers and cyclists.

What is the park's connection to the Battle of Austerlitz? The castle and its surroundings were a site of fighting in 1805, commemorated each year with a historical battle re-enactment held in the park.