Castle Jindřichův Hradec

The castle in Jindřichův Hradec is one of the most well-known and largest complexes of buildings. It has undergone complicated constructional development. The original name of today’s Jindřichův Hradec, “Nova domus” in Latin and “Neuhaus” in German, suggests that the castle had a predecessor.

Systematic archaeological research enabled the beginning of the local settlement to be explained. Its results led to the conclusion that a fortified Slavic settlement existed here already in the 10th century, which undoubtedly played its role in the Přemyslovec dynasty’s castle administration. Remains of a bulwark were found in front of the court facade of Adam II’s palace. Until the discovery of these facts, the date of the settlement’s establishment had been determined as the end of the 12th century. Further evidence proving the antiquity of this settlement are the findings in the Church of St. John the Baptist, where a large Romanesque church used to stand at the end of the 12th century. This moved the foundation of the oldest stone buildings in Jindřichův Hradec back to the time before the arrival of the Vítkovec family. Another fact testifying to the royal ownership of the castle is that king Přemysl Otakar II took the castle as a former royal manor from Oldřich I for a short time in 1277. A year later, Oldřich returned to Hradec. We can presume that the stone castle, which is one of the oldest royal castles with encircling buildings, was established by the king and taken over in the middle of its construction and finished by the Vítkovec family. The name of the first local Vítkovec, Jindřich, was later used to name the castle and the town.

Route A: Adam’s Building

Classical palace exhibition with rooms in the Renaissance, Baroque, Rococo, Empire and Classicist styles. Numerous pieces of furniture are complemented by many paintings and porcelain. The original Renaissance “Green Rooms” are considered to be unique, as is the masterpiece by the Czech high-Baroque painter, Petr Brandl, “Joseph of Egypt Lets His Brothers Recognise Him”.

Route B: Gothic Castle

Medieval castle with original interiors, Royal Hall with a mini-gallery of Czech mythical and actual rulers, castle Chapel of the Holy Spirit, the Scullery and a unique European painting – the Legend of St. George (wall painting from 1338). You can also see the so-called Madonna of Jindřichův Hradec (late-Gothic panel painting from 1460) here.

Route C: Walk through the Centuries

Tour of Classicist rooms with furniture from the Černín hunting palace Jemčina, including a picture gallery of the Černín dog pack. Moreover, tour of original interiors from the 19th century, the Černín portrait gallery (last owners of the palace) and finally, a pearl of European Mannerism, the garden rondelle.

Black Tower – Dungeon (Route for individual visit)

Tour of the tower, dungeon and remains of the oldest castle kitchen.