Žerotín Castle, House No. 51
Žerotín Castle, whose two turrets capture the attention of every visitor of our town, was originally a wooden fortress dating back to the end of the 14th century, which had been rebuilt many times.

The centre of the building was apparently a stone house of the lords of Kravaře, built in the 1380s. It was not before the 2nd half of the 15th century when the lords of Cimburk had it extended into a fortified late Gothic two-winged town castle. In 1500 the lords of Žerotín bought the estates of Starý Jičín and Nový Jičín. They had been evidently making partial adaptations of the castle since the beginning of the 16th century; however, more extensive building adaptations were not made before the 1530s and the early 1540s. Bedřich of Žerotín (the owner of the estate from 1533 to 1541) decided to transfer his seat from Štramberk to Nový Jičín and had the castle in Nový Jičín rebuilt and extended to meet the new, Renaissance, living requirements. The most important building adaptations were made in the main, today’s middle, wing.

After 1558 the Renaissance castle became property of the town together with the estate; in 1577 the town gained permission from Emperor Rudolf II to use it as a town hall and a seat of the estate administration. Soon after that, in the 1580s, the town had the third, west wing with a high attic with seventeen (?) turrets with lanterns (according to a picture from 1772) added, so the today’s ground plan in the shape of the letter F was basically finished. During the Thirty Years’ War the castle was plundered by Swedish troops and in 1678 it burnt down.

Just minor repairs were being made in the course of the 17th and 18th century. In 1760 the bulwarks and moats were filled up and in their place gardens were created, which were later built up. The last extensive building adaptations, during which the attic with the turrets over the west wing was taken down, can be dated back to 1868 - 1869.

The severe outer facades of the castle correspond to the originally fortress-like character of the building, which was part of the town fortifications. In the north courtyard of the west wing of the castle the remains of the attic with a pair of corner cylindrical turrets with Renaissance lanterns and conical roofs have been preserved.

In the 2nd half of the 19th century extensive changes were made in the castle interior; they influenced especially the character of the rooms on the upper floors. A Renaissance painted timber ceiling has been preserved in one of the rooms on the first floor.

Nowadays the castle grounds are the seat of the Museum of the Region of Nový Jičín, whose expositions provide an outline of the development of hat fashion and of the town history. Regular museum exhibitions are organised in the historical halls of the castle.

The Expositions:
Interiors with late Gothic and Renaissance elements, an exposition of the castle and estate history, "Nechte na hlavě" (Leave it on Your Head) - a permanent exposition of hats and fashion, partly represented in scenic wholes. Museum and art exhibitions.

A Point of Interest:
A collection of hats of prominent personalities (for example of A. Jirásek, F. Palacký).

The Tour:
A conducted tour 80 min., 40 people at the most.

Services:
Tour reservation, sale of souvenirs, a castle wine bar.

Opening hours:

1. 4. - 30. 9.
Tu - Fr 8 a.m. -12a.m. 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Sa, Su 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

1. 10. - 31. 3.
Tu - Fr 8 a.m. -12 p.m. 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Su 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
In October on Saturdays opened 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

INFORMATION: http://www.muzeum.novy-jicin.cz