Zámek Blatná

About the museum

Blatná Chateau grew up on a small hill in the middle of marshes, after which the town was named. The first written mention of the fortified manor dates from 1235. In the second half of the 13th century it was acquired by the Bavors of Strakonice, who replaced the wooden buildings with a stone castle with two facing palaces. Water moats and ponds formed a continuous defence, and by about 1299 it was a true castle.

After 1403 the castle passed to the Rožmitál family, under whom Blatná experienced its greatest flourishing. Jan of Rožmitál had the castle rebuilt in the Gothic style, and his sons, including the diplomat Jaroslav Lev, added a prismatic entrance tower, a chapel and the Rožmitál Palace. Zdeněk Lev then had the south-western palace rebuilt to plans by Benedikt Rejt as a three-storey building in the spirit of Late Gothic and Renaissance. Later the Renaissance Rozdražovský Palace was added. During the Thirty Years' War the castle was plundered by Mansfeld's troops, and in the 17th and 18th centuries Baroque alterations were carried out under the Serényi family.

In 1798 the estate was bought by the Tyrolean Hildprandt family of Ottenhausen, who owned it until the Communist coup. In 1850–1856 Robert Hildprandt had the chateau rebuilt in the Neo-Gothic style to a design by the Munich architect Bernard Grüber, giving the building its present form. After 1948 the state gradually took the family's property; part of the family later left for Ethiopia, which is why the exhibition also includes Ethiopian artefacts. After 1991 the chateau was returned to the Hildprandts through restitution. The owners are restoring it and opening it to the public.

Highlights

• Water chateau with the Gothic Rožmitál Palace, the late Gothic Rejt Palace and the Renaissance Rozdražovský Palace
• Tour about the Hildprandt family, with a Baroque salon, picture gallery and rooms dedicated to J. E. Purkyně
• Family memorabilia of the Hildprandts, including Ethiopian objects
• Children's tour in July and August (from age 3)
• Chateau park with alpacas and the Oh My Deer Café

Permanent exhibitions

• Hildprandtové a jejich osudy (1. okruh) – The tour about the current owners of the chateau, the Hildprandt family, leads through the Baroque salon, the picture gallery, the social salon and rooms dedicated to J. E. Purkyně.
• Nejvýznamnější rody na Blatné (2. okruh) – The route begins in rooms associated with the Rožmitáls, such as the Green Room, the chapel and the guardroom, and continues through the restored Hildprandt rooms: the hunting salon, dining room, smoking room and Empire salon.
• Od středověku po současnost (3. okruh) – The longer tour combines the first two routes and leads through the Rožmitál and Rozdražovský palaces, the chapel, the armoury and the picture gallery; it ends with a view of the park from the west terrace of the Rejt Palace.

Operated by

H.-G. CZ, s.r.o.

Admission & discounts

The prices given apply to tours in Czech; tours in English and German cost more and must be booked in advance. Tickets are sold online and on site.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• 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 website gives no information on step-free access. Visitors with ZTP and ZTP/P cards are offered reduced admission and free park entry. Details are available from the chateau management at +420 734 651 505.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

The children's tour (from age 3, 40 minutes) is designed for the youngest visitors. Alpacas live on the site; the offer includes meeting the alpacas, walks and picnics with them, and an alpaca farm for little farmers.

Getting there & parking

The chateau stands in the centre of Blatná on Na Příkopech street; for navigation use the address Na Příkopech 320, 388 01 Blatná.

Amenities & dining

• Café

The Oh My Deer Café is on the site (January to June and September to December, Tuesday to Sunday 10:00–17:00; in July and August daily 9:00–18:00).

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Weddings / ceremonies

The chateau offers wedding ceremonies and cultural events; the contact for weddings is +420 776 847 816.

Plan your visit