Hrad Veveří

About the museum

Veveří Castle above the Svratka is first documented in 1213, though according to legend it is older. It was built on a narrow rocky spur as a late Romanesque to early Gothic structure, and in the 13th century Přemysl Otakar II held political opponents prisoner there. From 1334 Margrave John Henry (Jan Jindřich), the younger brother of Charles IV, extended and fortified it and made it one of his main seats.

During the Hussite Wars the castle withstood a siege; in 1468 it was taken by the army of Matthias Corvinus, and in 1645 it survived the Swedish siege of Brno. After 1707 the Sinzendorf family had it remodelled in the Baroque style. In 1830 the castle was bought by Prince Gustav Vasa, son of the deposed Swedish king Gustav IV Adolf. Later owners included Georg Simon von Sina and Moritz von Hirsch. The state has owned the castle since 1925; in the 20th century it was also damaged by insensitive alterations.

The castle has been administered by the National Heritage Institute since 1999 and has been permanently open to the public since 2002. Since 2023 it has been a national cultural monument. Visitors can walk round the site on their own or join tours, the best known of which is the apartment of Prince Vasa on the first floor of the palace.

Highlights

• Prince Vasa’s apartment on the first floor of the 19th-century palace
• Building-history tour from the cellars to the attics
• Exhibition Lev a orlice (The Lion and the Eagle) on the Moravian Luxembourgs
• Independent visit of the whole castle grounds
• National cultural monument above the Svratka

Permanent exhibitions

• Apartmá prince Vasy – Restored interiors on the first floor of the palace from the first half of the 19th century, where the Swedish prince Gustav Vasa lived.
• Lev a orlice – Moravští Lucemburkové a jejich hrad – Exhibition on the Moravian branch of the Luxembourg dynasty and its connection with Veveří Castle.

Operated by

Národní památkový ústav

Admission & discounts

The price of CZK 60 applies to an independent visit of the site and also includes the exhibition The Lion and the Eagle. Payment is by cash only. Bookings are required only for groups. English-language commentary is possible only for pre-booked groups; the surcharge for a guided group tour is CZK 300.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The courtyards have uneven, stony and in places sloping surfaces, and the tour route runs on the first floor. A step-free WC with a changing table is available. Dogs may enter the site only on a lead and in a basket, not into the buildings.

Kids & families

• Baby changing facilities

There is a changing table in the step-free WC.

Getting there & parking

Because of repairs to the southern gate, entry is only possible through the western (upper) gate.

Amenities & dining

On site there are two refreshment outlets and a wine shop. The nearest restaurant, Stará Prádelna, is about 0.5 km away.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit