Rájec nad Svitavou Castle

The Rájec nad Svitavou Castle is located on the high rise in the immediate vicinity of the Rájec-Jeshrobi. It is a late Baroque manison de plaisance castle, which has evolved for centuries - from medieval military strongholds to Renaissance palace manor to the imagination castle of the eighteenth century.

The oldest authors of the castle were three medieval forts. The existence of the older one is expected in the 13th century; in the 14th and 15th centuries, both are supported by written sources. They were defeated gradually - first probably during the so-called Margrave Wars between Margrave Yošt and his brother Prokop, then in 1431 by Hussite troops, and last mentioned as destroyed and desolate in 1446. The founders of the fort seem to have been members of the ruling family of the lords of Eden. The estate gradually passes among the various owners - the lords of Kunštát, of Lomnice, and finally the desolate fort becomes the property of the Olomouc bishop.

In 1464, the tomato goods will be taken into the hands of Drnovsky of Drnovice, which will become a determining family for centuries. In the second half of the 15th century, the smaller of the castles are restored in late Gothic style. Around 1570, the excellent landlord and supreme court judge of the Moravian Margrave Bernard Drnovský of Drnovic will expand the residence substantially and rebuild it in the Renaissance spirit - creating a four-wing two-story castle with a rectangular arcade courtyard and a tower above the main entrance. It grows around the castle with economic buildings, many of which have been preserved until today. The original form of the Renaissance castle was preserved in the painting of St. Florian in 1657, which hangs in the Church of All Saints in Paradise.

This period suddenly ends. In 1756, the castle was completely destroyed by a fire. At the time of the disaster, it is owned by the Rogendorf family, the Kraba family of Styria, which in the middle of the 18th century prefers it to a more comfortable palace in Brno. The castle remains in ruins.

Change comes in 1763. On 23 March, the estate buys the Old Count Antonín Karel Salm-Reifferscheidt, a secret council, the highest chamber and diplomat in the service of Marie Teresa and Josef II. Immediately after purchase, he will proceed to the construction of a new castle - maison de plaisance in the modern style of French classicality. The project is prepared by a Viennese architect of French origin Isidor Canevale, which creates a project in the style of the so-called rococo classicism (sometimes referred to as the style of luisése). The inspiration is drawn from the summer mansions of the French nobles of Louis XVI.

Today the castle is a national cultural monument owned by the state. It is managed by the National Heritage Institute and is open to the public. Visitors can see both architectural elements of the Baroque residence and the preserved economic buildings forelock.