Zámek Dyjakovice

Dyjákovice Chateau is a modest, now-empty manor house in the small town of Dyjákovice in South Moravia's Znojmo district. It won't dazzle you with architecture, but its ownership history stretches back to the Middle Ages, making it a worthwhile short stop for anyone exploring the area around Moravský Krumlov and Znojmo.

When does the story of Dyjákovice begin?

The first written record of Dyjákovice dates to 1278, when King Rudolf I's army camped nearby. The village remained church property until at least 1320. During the 14th century it passed to the Lords of Bítov, who sold it to Drslav of Šelnberk in 1390. Ownership later moved to the Lords of Boskovice, and in 1489 the Pernštejn family bought the estate. By the 16th century, Dyjákovice had been inherited by the Lords of Lipá.

Who actually built the chateau, and why?

The turning point came when Berchtold Bohosud of Lipá took part in the Bohemian Estates' uprising. His property was confiscated and sold to Prince Liechtenstein, and Dyjákovice became part of the large Moravský Krumlov estate. At the end of the 17th century, Karel of Liechtenstein had a chateau built here — but not as a noble family seat. It was designed as a residence for the official who administered the Moravský Krumlov domain. That explains the building's plain, functional character: it was never meant to impress.

What does the building look like?

The chateau is a two-story structure with a partially irregular floor plan. On the west facade, facing the courtyard, a bay-like projection juts out above the entrance — the most distinctive feature of an otherwise austere exterior. There's none of the ornamental flourish typical of grander Moravian residences; this was always a working administrative building.

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

In 1835, Prince Liechtenstein dissolved the manorial farm and leased the land to peasants, and the chateau lost its administrative role, becoming a residential building instead. It was renovated in 1878, a date still marked by a cartouche on the facade. After 1948 the property was nationalized and used as offices for the local state farm. In 1965 it received a new facade.

What is the chateau's condition today?

The building was returned to its original owners after 1989. Attempts to sell it have not succeeded, and it now stands unused and uninhabited. There is no interior access for visitors — the chateau can only be viewed from the outside while passing through Dyjákovice.

Frequently asked questions

Can you visit the inside of Dyjákovice Chateau? No. The building is closed to the public and remains unused by its owners. It can only be seen from the outside.

Who built the chateau in Dyjákovice? It was built by Karel of Liechtenstein at the end of the 17th century as a residence for the official managing the Moravský Krumlov estate, not as a family seat.

How is Dyjákovice Chateau different from typical Moravian chateaus? It was built as a plain administrative building rather than a grand noble residence, which explains its modest scale and lack of decorative detail compared to other chateaus in the region.

Where is Dyjákovice located? The town lies in the Znojmo district of the South Moravian Region, close to the Austrian border.