Zámek Radešín

Radešín Chateau is a small but unusually eventful manor house in the Vysočina Region, in the Žďár nad Sázavou district, with roots stretching back to the Middle Ages and a history closely tied to the nearby Cistercian monastery. After decades of decline, the building has found a new life: today it operates as a hotel and hot-air balloon centre, making it one of the more unusual destinations in the region.

How did Radešín begin?

The site's story starts in the late 13th century, when a monastic farmstead (a "grangie") belonging to the Cistercian monastery in Žďár nad Sázavou was established here. The walled agricultural compound gradually took on a defensive character, centred on a tower-like structure that would later form the core of the residence.

What changed during the Renaissance?

In 1597, the estate was bought by Samuel Radešínský z Radešovic, a doctor of law, who converted the medieval stronghold into a multi-storey Renaissance residence with a near-square footprint. It was under his ownership that the building gained the character of a representative seat rather than a purely functional farm complex. In 1607 the estate passed to the Bishop of Olomouc, František z Ditrichštejna, and in 1638 it returned to the restored monastery in Žďár nad Sázavou.

What role did Jan Blažej Santini-Aichl play?

The most significant chapter in the chateau's history unfolded between 1706 and 1710, when Abbot Václav Vejmluva commissioned a major Baroque reconstruction from the celebrated architect Jan Blažej Santini-Aichl, best known for the pilgrimage church on Zelená hora nearby. Santini linked the existing residence with the brewery building through a new Baroque wing and designed a monumental marble entrance portal. A Baroque chapel and a well had already been added in 1684, showing that the estate's expansion was underway even before Santini's involvement.

How did the 19th century reshape the chateau?

After Joseph II dissolved the monasteries in 1784, the estate passed to a Moravian religious fund, and in 1826 it was purchased by the Schneider family. The following year brought a Neoclassical renovation that unified the facades of the whole complex and established an extensive castle park. In the 1860s, a small theatre was even installed on the second floor, a sign of the lively social life the residence hosted at the time. The Schneiders' descendants, the Duré family, owned Radešín until 1945.

What happened to the chateau after the Second World War?

Following the war, the property was nationalised, and for decades the building served as housing and storage space for the State Agricultural Enterprise based in Křižanov. This period took a heavy toll on the chateau, which fell into serious disrepair, suffering structural damage and progressive deterioration that continued until the late 1980s.

How was the chateau brought back to life?

The turning point came in 2005, when Radešín was purchased by the Kubíček family. Their restoration work returned the building to a presentable state while giving it an entirely new function: today it operates as the so-called Balónový zámek — a "balloon chateau" combining a hotel with a hot-air ballooning centre. This blend of historic Baroque interiors with an active, airborne pastime is now the estate's main draw.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Radešín Chateau located? In the village of Radešín, in the Žďár nad Sázavou district, in the Vysočina Region of the Czech Republic.

Who designed the chateau's Baroque reconstruction? The Baroque wing and entrance portal were designed between 1706 and 1710 by architect Jan Blažej Santini-Aichl, also known for the nearby pilgrimage church on Zelená hora.

Can visitors access the chateau today? Yes, though not as a classic museum-style castle — the building now operates as a hotel and hot-air balloon centre, run by the Kubíček family since 2005.

What was the building originally used for? It began as a monastic farmstead belonging to the Cistercian monastery in Žďár nad Sázavou, only later becoming a residence.

What makes Radešín stand out among other chateaus in the Vysočina region? Its rare combination of Baroque architecture linked to Santini and a modern sporting/tourism function centred on hot-air balloon flights, unusual among historic residences in the area.