Discover Žeranovice: Castle, Hrádek and countryside

Žeranovice lies in the foothills of the Hostýnské hory, at the boundary between Haná, Valašsko and Slovácko. The destination combines a varied landscape with a rich cultural and historical heritage. Žeranovice has something to offer visitors with either interest.

A landscape of hills and valleys

The town lies partly on a hill and partly in a valley. The Žeranovka flows through Žeranovice, while the Židelná skirts the town on its eastern side. The three regional names provide a broader geographical context; the hills, valley and different courses of the streams describe the landscape right around the town.

The Hrádek fortified site

The Hrádek fortified site is a small, well-preserved remnant of a fortified feudal manor that is clearly visible in the terrain. Its core is surrounded by a ditch 20 to 25 metres wide, with a low rampart along the outside. The ditch and rampart make the form of the fortifications easy to understand, while the site’s small size and clear visibility mark it out as a distinct historical testament.

The Hrádek site can now be reached by a path that runs from the west along the edge of the valley. As conditions on the path can vary, it is best to check them before your visit. This lets you appreciate Hrádek as a historical site set within the landscape, without reducing its significance to the visible shape of the ditch: it is the remains of a fortified manor.

The castle and its present-day use

The Seilern family gave Žeranovice Castle its present-day Neo-Gothic appearance. Despite numerous alterations, several original architectural features have been preserved. These include stone groin vaults in the cellar rooms and a remnant of the original entrance to the former fortress. These details represent older elements of the complex, while its Neo-Gothic appearance also reflects a later phase of design.

The castle now houses the municipal office, a library, a hall for social events and, on the ground floor, a restaurant. The building is therefore shaped both by its architectural history and by its current uses. If you plan to visit one of the facilities mentioned, check its current use in advance.

Church, sculptures and local history

The present building of St Lawrence’s Church in Žeranovice was solemnly consecrated on 21 October 1900. Two of the town’s older works of art have dates close together: the statue of St Joseph was created in 1759 and remodelled in 1920. The statue of St Vendelin is Late Baroque and dates to 1760. Both have been listed as cultural monuments since 3 May 1958. The history of the figure of St Joseph therefore also includes a later remodelling, while Vendelin is classified as a Late Baroque sculpture.

Another trace of the town’s history is the former windmill near Žeranovice. It stood until 1935 and was dismantled because it had fallen into considerable disrepair. Its history differs from that of the preserved architectural features of the castle: older elements survived there despite alterations, whereas the demolition itself became a historical point of reference for the mill. Together with the church building and sculptures, these sites offer different perspectives on the history of Žeranovice—from the monuments of the 18th century, through the church, to the more recent history of the castle.

Discover more destinations: Pacetluky, Chvalnov-Lísky, Střížovice, Chomýž, Vítonice, Uhřice, Vrbka, Počenice-Tetětice

For the broader travel overview: Kroměříž District.