Zámek Nová Bystřice

Nová Bystřice Castle stands right on the main square of the small town of Nová Bystřice, in the Jindřichův Hradec district of South Bohemia, Czech Republic. Few Czech castles have changed hands quite as often as this one, and few have burned down quite as many times either — yet it has survived to see a fresh restoration effort begin in the 2020s. The town itself sits at the edge of the Czech Canada (Česká Kanada) region, right against the Austrian border.

How old is Nová Bystřice Castle?

The first written record of the castle dates to 1341, although the settlement of Bystřice itself is documented as early as 1175. The original structure was a Gothic stronghold raised in the 14th century, built in close connection with the town growing up around it — its front has faced the square from the very start, and still does today.

Who owned the castle over the centuries?

From the 1380s the estate belonged to the Krajíř family of Krajek. In 1420 the castle was captured by Hussite forces under the command of Jan Žižka. The Krajíř family held on to the property until 1575, when it passed to the Lobkowicz family, who in turn sold it in 1602 to Radslav Vchynický z Tetova, a relative of the Kinský family. Through the 17th century, ownership passed to members of the Slavata family, and later to Jan Leopold of Fünfkirchen and his descendants, who kept the estate for a considerable stretch of time.

Ownership kept changing hands well into the modern era: the Riese-Stallburg family held the castle from 1826 to 1900, the princely Schönburg-Waldenburg family from 1900 to 1909, and from 1909 the Jewish Kern family, whose property was nationalized in 1945.

How did fires and rebuilding shape the castle?

The building burned and was rebuilt more than once, each time picking up the architectural fashion of the day. A fire in 1607 triggered a Renaissance-style reconstruction — from that period the east wing still preserves a two-storey Renaissance arcade and barrel-vaulted cellars. In the second half of the 17th century, under the Fünfkirchen family, the castle received Baroque alterations, only to burn down again in 1691 and be rebuilt once more. A further fire in 1774 was serious enough that Countess Antonie of Fünfkirchen chose to restore only part of the building; from that point on it was used mainly for agricultural purposes, and its facade took on the more restrained, classical look still visible from the square today.

What happened to the castle after World War II?

Following nationalization in 1945, the building fell into gradual disrepair. Even after 1989, when the town regained control of it, there was no money available for its upkeep. In the 1990s the town sold the castle to a private owner from Brno, who carried out extensive repair work between 1998 and 2008. Since 2024 the castle has had new owners, Miroslava and Jan Hromas, who are pursuing further restoration with plans to eventually open the building to the public — including ideas for a museum and community-style accommodation.

Can you visit the castle today?

The castle remains privately owned and is not regularly open to visitors; at times it has been accessible only occasionally. Despite visible signs of neglect, it is generally considered to be in a preserved, reasonably stable condition, and the current owners' ongoing investment is expected to change its accessibility in the years ahead.

Nová Bystřice itself also makes a good base for exploring the wider Czech Canada region and is the terminus of a narrow-gauge railway to Jindřichův Hradec, which runs historic steam trains during the tourist season. Near the square, the Gothic Church of Saints Peter and Paul, built around 1335, is also worth a look.

Frequently asked questions

Is Nová Bystřice Castle open to tourists? No — it is privately owned and not regularly open for visits at present, though the new owners plan to change that.

Who owns the castle now? Since 2024 it has belonged to Miroslava and Jan Hromas, who are carrying out its restoration.

Why did the castle change owners so many times? Over the centuries it passed between noble families — the Krajíř, Lobkowicz, Kinský, Slavata and Fünfkirchen lines — and in the 19th and 20th centuries was sold repeatedly before ending up in private hands again after 1989.

What else is worth seeing in Nová Bystřice besides the castle? The Gothic Church of Saints Peter and Paul from around 1335, the narrow-gauge railway station serving trains to Jindřichův Hradec, and the surrounding Czech Canada countryside for hiking and cycling.