Zámek Klimkovice

Klimkovice Chateau is a Renaissance residence standing in the heart of the small spa town of the same name, a short drive west of Ostrava. Today it houses the town hall and a local museum, but its walls remember a medieval stronghold, a devastating fire, and the fighting of the final days of the Second World War.

How did the chateau come to be?

The earliest written record of a fortified seat in Klimkovice dates back to 1513, when a Gothic tvrz — a fortified manor typical of the era — stood on the site. The turning point came in 1573, when the entire Klimkovice estate passed into the hands of Ondřej Bzenec of Markvartovice. A few years later, between 1578 and 1579, he commissioned the rebuilding of the modest stronghold into a grand Renaissance residence. The work was carried out by a builder of Italian origin, whose influence can still be traced in the older architectural details of the structure.

How has the chateau's appearance changed over the centuries?

The original chateau looked considerably more impressive than the building standing today. It had one extra floor, was crowned by four towers, featured an ornately decorated facade, and contained as many as 67 rooms. That grander version survived until 1854, when a large fire swept through the building and destroyed its top floor and towers. A second blow came in May 1945, when the chateau burned down again almost completely during the liberation fighting at the end of the war. The rebuilt structure took on the simpler form seen today: a two-story, square-plan brick building with four wings enclosing its courtyards. Since 1958, the chateau has been listed as a protected cultural monument.

What secrets do the chateau's passages hold?

One of the more curious features of the complex is a raised, covered walkway linking the chateau directly to the neighboring church — the lords of the manor could once walk straight from their rooms to the church choir loft without stepping outside. Beneath the chateau itself runs an underground passage stretching close to 900 meters, most likely built as an escape route in times of danger, a feature not uncommon in noble residences of that period.

What can visitors see at the chateau today?

The chateau now serves as the seat of the Klimkovice town hall. It also houses a permanent museum exhibition on the town's history, alongside a display of paintings by the artist Helena Salichová, a local tourist information center, and a municipal police station. This mix of functions keeps the chateau a living part of the town rather than a monument seen only from the outside.

Why is Klimkovice known as a spa town?

The town where the chateau stands lies in the Moravian-Silesian Region, roughly ten kilometers from Ostrava, at the foot of the Low Jeseník hills with views stretching toward the Beskydy Mountains. Klimkovice owes much of its reputation to its spa, established in 1994 around a rare iodine-bromine brine spring. The resort's buildings have won recognition for their unusual architectural design, and the town itself has become a popular destination for health-focused trips from across the Ostrava region.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Klimkovice Chateau located? In the center of the town of Klimkovice, in the Moravian-Silesian Region, about 10 km from Ostrava.

When was the chateau built? A fortified seat was first recorded in 1513; it was rebuilt into a Renaissance chateau between 1578 and 1579.

Why does the chateau look more modest today than it once did? Because it was struck by fire twice — in 1854 and again in May 1945 during the liberation fighting — losing its top floor, towers, and much of its original decoration.

What is housed in the chateau today? The town hall, a museum of Klimkovice's history, an exhibition of paintings by Helena Salichová, a tourist information center, and a municipal police station.

Does the chateau have any hidden passages? Yes — a covered walkway leading to the church, and an underground passage nearly 900 meters long believed to have served as an escape route.