Tvrz Žumberk u Nových Hradů

About the museum

The village of Žumberk (German Sonnberg) came into being in the mid-13th century. It was held in turn by abbots of the Rožmberk monastery in Vyšší Brod, by the Rožmberks and, in particular, by several lesser noble families. At the end of the 15th century an extensive stone Late Gothic fortified manor was built here; alterations at the end of the 16th and beginning of the 17th century turned it into a small Renaissance chateau. In 1549–1600 it was the main seat of Jindřich Pouzar of Michnice. Around 1612–1615 the new estate owner, Theobald Höck, had the complex enclosed by a wall with six bastions.

From 1618 the nobility no longer lived at Žumberk; the fortified manor and bastions were put to other uses and gradually fell into decay. A large-scale heritage restoration began in 1969 and was completed in 1974, when the fortified manor was opened to the public. In the 1990s all the surviving bastions were repaired, and the water reservoir below the fortified manor was restored.

Today the fortified manor is managed by the South Bohemian Museum in České Budějovice. The permanent exhibition presents the history of the fortified manor and its surroundings, the glassmaking of the Novohrad and Šumava regions and personalities of the region; on the first floor there is folk painted furniture from southern Bohemia. A separate interactive exhibition is devoted to forgotten crafts, and the bastions house a lapidarium and the exhibition “The Rožmberk Official”.

Highlights

• Permanent exhibition on the history of the fortified manor, Novohrad glassmaking and personalities of the region
• Interactive exhibition “Crafts beneath the Novohrad Mountains”, with German texts
• Folk painted furniture from the 18th and 19th centuries from southern Bohemia
• Exhibition “The Rožmberk Official” in bastion “C”
• Lapidarium of the South Bohemian Museum in bastions “A” and “B”
• Wooden sculptures around the fortified manor from symposia in 2008 and 2012

Permanent exhibitions

• Historie tvrze Žumberka a okolí, Skleněný poklad a Osobnosti Novohradska – Permanent exhibition on the history of the fortified manor and its surroundings, on Novohrad and Šumava glassmaking, and on prominent personalities of the region.
• Řemesla pod Novohradskými horami – Interactive exhibition on crafts of the second half of the 19th and early 20th century, for example stonemasons, wheelwrights, coopers, shoemakers and glassmakers.
• Úředník rožmberský a lapidárium – In bastion “C” the exhibition The Rise and Fall of a Rožmberk Official; in bastions “A” and “B” a lapidarium with tombstones, stone fragments, archaeological finds and bells.

Founded

1974

Operated by

Jihočeské muzeum v Českých Budějovicích

Admission & discounts

The basic price of CZK 100 and the reduced price of CZK 50 apply to the tour of the fortified manor; the website does not state who is entitled to the reduced price.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Hands-on stations

The exhibition Crafts beneath the Novohrad Mountains is interactive and also suitable for families with children. Children can play at being a tanner or shoemaker, try out a work stool called a dědek, assemble a bucket, thread glass beads or plait string.

Getting there & parking

The fortified manor stands in the village of Žumberk, about 30 km south-east of České Budějovice; a map can be found on the page “How to Get Here”.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Weddings / ceremonies

Up to 50 guests.

Wedding ceremonies take place in the season from 1 April to 31 October in the small courtyard, or in the Knights' Hall in case of bad weather. Hire costs CZK 5,000 including VAT; the recommended number of guests is 50.

Plan your visit