Zámek Diváky

Diváky Chateau stands on the western edge of the village of Diváky, in the Břeclav district of the South Moravian Region. The late Baroque residence was raised in the 1740s for the Jesuit order of Brno, and its design is credited to the noted Baroque architect František Antonín Grimm.

What stood on the site before the chateau?

The ground beneath today's chateau carries a longer history than the building itself. As early as the 16th century a convent dedicated to Cella sanctae Mariae operated here, known locally as the Herburg convent after its first prioress, Herburga. In 1578 the estate passed into the hands of the Jesuit order, and it was the Jesuits who, in the 1740s, commissioned the grand residence that still stands today. Surviving Jesuit archives indicate the construction was finished in 1747.

The chateau was laid out as a three-wing, two-storey building. Its side wings frame an honorary courtyard in front of the main facade, and the principal entrance is marked by a stone balcony portal — a feature typical of Jesuit residences of that era in the region.

Who owned the chateau after the Jesuit order was dissolved?

The chateau's ownership history after 1773, when the Jesuit order was abolished, is well documented. The estate first passed to a state religious fund. In 1789 it was bought by Anton Friedrich von Mayern, who sold it the same year to Francois de Langendonck. Ownership changed again in 1827, when the Diváky estate was acquired by Charles Louis vic de Fribert, who held it until his death in 1874. A crypt of the Fribert family, built in 1832, still stands in the chateau park today.

In 1889 the property was purchased by the Barons Lewetzow, whose family retained it until the end of the Second World War.

How was the chateau used after World War II?

Following the war the estate was nationalized and repurposed for education. It first housed an agricultural apprenticeship school, and later — until 1998 — a secondary vocational school specializing in electrical engineering. Once its educational role ended, the building stood without a permanent tenant for a time.

A turning point came in 2006, when the South Moravian Region sold the chateau to private owners. The new owners carried out renovation works that restored part of the building's original character. Today Diváky Chateau remains privately owned.

Can visitors tour Diváky Chateau today?

The property is not open to tourists — it functions as a private residence rather than a museum or a hotel welcoming guests. Visitors interested in the region's architecture can still view the facade and the surrounding chateau park from outside, while respecting that it is private property.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who built Diváky Chateau? The residence was built in the 1740s for the Jesuit order of Brno, to a design attributed to František Antonín Grimm, with construction finished in 1747.

Did an earlier building stand on the same site? Yes — a convent called Cella sanctae Mariae operated there from the 16th century and was taken over by the Jesuits in 1578.

Who owned the chateau before World War II? After the Jesuit order was dissolved in 1773, the estate passed through several owners, including the de Langendonck family, Charles Louis vic de Fribert, and, from 1889, the Barons Lewetzow.

What was the chateau used for after 1945? The building served as a school — first agricultural, then, until 1998, a secondary school specializing in electrical engineering.

Is Diváky Chateau open to the public today? No — since 2006 it has been privately owned and is not open for tourist visits.