Zámek Nová Včelnice (nepřístupný)

Nová Včelnice Château is a three-wing building standing in the center of the small town of Nová Včelnice, in the Jindřichův Hradec district of South Bohemia. The interior is currently closed to visitors, but the building's layered history and architecture still make it worth a short stop while walking through the town.

What is the history behind the château?

The building grew out of a Gothic fortress first explicitly recorded in 1454, although the original structure dates back to the turn of the 13th and 14th centuries. Its earliest known owners were knights of Včelnice, among them the knight Svatomír, who served in the army of King John of Bohemia. In 1467, during the wars between Jiří z Poděbrad and the league of noblemen, the fortress was burned down by Zdeněk z Hradce. Soon after, the estate passed to the Vencelík family of Vrchoviště, who repaired and enlarged the old seat.

A major turning point came in 1649, when the Vencelíks sold Včelnice to the Paradies de Lassaga family. Between 1693 and 1702 they built a new residential wing right next to the old fortress, creating the three-wing complex visible today. In the 18th century the estate belonged to Count Jan Hubert Hartig, one of the notable figures of Prague's musical life at the time. In the 19th century the property passed to the Geymüller family, who around 1840 remodeled the facade in the Empire style — details still visible on the building today.

For most of the 20th century the château gradually fell into disrepair, standing empty for years without windows or doors. The turning point came in 2019, when the property changed hands: the new owner carried out a thorough renovation and converted the château into a care home for senior citizens, its current function.

What can you see from the outside?

Even though the interior is off-limits, the building itself is worth a look. Its three-wing layout, typical of noble residences reshaped over several centuries, is clearly visible from the town square and the surrounding park. The 19th-century Empire-style facade elements contrast with the older, Gothic-to-Renaissance core of the building, making the château a compact illustration of architectural layering — from a medieval fortress, through Baroque and Empire-era remodeling, to its present-day use.

How do you get to Nová Včelnice?

Nová Včelnice lies in the Jindřichův Hradec district of South Bohemia, close to the border with the Vysočina region. The town is reachable by car or bus, with Jindřichův Hradec serving as the nearest larger transport hub with regular connections. The château sits right in the town center, an easy walk from the main square.

When is the best time to visit?

Since the château can only be viewed from the outside, the season matters less than the weather — pick a clear day to comfortably walk around the building and the adjoining park. Spring and summer also make it easy to combine a stop here with other sights in the wider Jindřichův Hradec area.

Frequently asked questions

Can you go inside the château? No. The building is currently closed to tourists — after renovation it now operates as a care home for senior citizens.

Who built the château? Its present three-wing form dates mainly to the Paradies de Lassaga family, who added a new wing to the older Gothic fortress between 1693 and 1702.

How old is the building? The oldest part, the original fortress, dates from the turn of the 13th and 14th centuries, with the first written mention appearing in 1454.

What is the château used for today? Since 2019, following a thorough renovation, it has functioned as a care home for the elderly.