The castle was built next to a game reserve in a place surrounded from three sides by the river Dyje. It served as a hunting lodge – a gathering place before the hunt and the place of celebrations at the end of the hunting season. Rich banquets were held here after the hunts during which the king of the hunt was announced. The object also served as home to the local harbinger. The construction work started in 1801 by Alois I. Josef, the Prince of Liechtenstein according to project by Joseph Hardtmuth. However, the prince died in 1805 and the project had to be completed by his three-year younger brother – Jan I. Josef the Prince of Liechtenstein.
Jonh´s Castle was originally supposed to be much grander, but the project was reduced at the request of the prince. The building consists of four corner towers – each one with a different ground plan. The towers are connected from three sides by perimeter walls with first floor ramparts located on the outer sides. The fourth side of the courtyard is closed by a mansion.
On the first floor of the mansion there is the Knights Hall where the feasts and hunting banquets took place. Lounges are located in the towers. Only the South tower has a second floor with a balcony from which it is possible to cross a gallery to the second floor of the West tower. The third floor comprises of a lookout point on the South tower.
The unstable floodplain forest subsoil had to be reinforced by wooden beams. Only then could the work begin. Stones for the construction were brought from Pálava and the nearby Great Moravian settlement of Pohansko. In his effort to build as realistic imitation of a real castle as possible, the architect paid great attention to every detail, such as the right-handed turning staircase, privys and loopholes.
| Period | Days | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| 1. 9.-30. 9. | tue–sun | 9.00 – 16.00 |
| 1. 10.-30. 10. | sat–sun | 9.00 – 16.00 |
The representative halls are located on the ground floor of the chateau – they served as venue for social events, balls etc.
this tour is available today 9.00 – 17.00
240 Kč (full admission) Buy ticket
duration 45 minutes
max. 45 people
reservation needed for groups only
The private princes´ apartments on the first floor of the chateau served the princely family until 1945. Between 1950´s and 2001 there were exhibits of the Agricultural Museum. Since 2001, the apartments have been redecorated with original inventory according to historical listings and form a separate circuit.
this tour is available today 9.00 – 17.00
240 Kč (full admission) Buy ticket
duration 45 minutes
max. 25 people
reservation needed for groups only
The princes´ and princesses´ children rooms and Milan Knížák´s puppet museum are located on the second floor of the chateau.
this tour is available today 9.15 – 16.15
220 Kč (full admission) Buy ticket
duration 45 minutes
max. 20 people
reservation needed for groups only
An artificial Baroque stalactite cave in the chateau´s cellar.
this tour is available today 9.15 – 16.15
100 Kč (full admission)
duration 20 minutes
max. 20 people
reservation needed for groups only
Greenhouse - was build 1843-45 to Georg Wingelmüller`s design.
this tour is available today 9.00 – 17.00
100 Kč (full admission)
unlimited
reservation not necessary
The Minaret, also known as the Turkish Tower is a building constructed on the axis of the chateau. This attractive spire was built by Alois Josef I. according to architect Josef Hardtmuth´s plans at the turn of the 18th and 19th century. It is an exceptional construction of this type in Europe and being almost 60 meters high it is also one of the...
this tour is available today 9.00 – 17.00
100 Kč (full admission)
unlimited
reservation not necessary
The newly restored halls are located on the first floor of the minaret and are open to public
this tour is available today 10.00 – 16.00
180 Kč (full admission) Buy ticket
duration 30 minutes
max. 15 people
reservation recommended