Moravské Budějovice Castle Audio guide

A Castle in the Town Center

Moravské Budějovice Castle stands right on Náměstí Míru and is one of the most striking landmarks in the historic center. Since 1968, it has been protected as a cultural monument. In the immediate vicinity stands the Church of Saint Giles, creating an exceptionally valuable urban ensemble in which church, administrative, and noble history intertwine.

From Town Houses to a Baroque Residence

The present appearance of the castle was created between 1666 and 1672 under Count Rudolf Heinrich of Schaumburg. The building replaced four Renaissance town houses, and the town hall from 1592 was also incorporated into the castle grounds. This clearly shows how the shape of urban space changed in the early modern period, as noble representation gradually gained the upper hand over the older town buildings.

Classical-style Alterations and Present Use

The castle remained in Schaumburg hands until 1736, when it was acquired by the Wallis family, who gave the complex a Classical-style unifying treatment. The building today has one floor, with an asymmetrically designed entrance risalit and regularly arranged windows. The protected complex also includes a stable, the castle park, an enclosure wall with gates, and the steward's house. Since 1947, the building has housed a museum with an exhibition on the crafts and trades of southwestern Moravia, as well as a tour route devoted to the town's history and its last noble owners.