The original Znojmo Castle, built in the 1st half of the 11th century on a promontory above Dyje River, was the seat of Znojmo Přemyslid appanage princes and fortress guarding the southern border of the Czech Lands
The original Znojmo Castle, built in the 1st half of the 11th century on a promontory above Dyje River, was the seat of Znojmo Přemyslid appanage princes and fortress guarding the southern border of the Czech Lands. In the 18th century, the Lords of Deblín erected a Baroque chateau on its foundations, proceeding only from the ground plan of the northern and eastern wings. The spacious courtyard on the site of the southern and western wings of the original castle is designed as a court of honour. The oval entrance hall of the chateau - known as "Ancestors´Hall", attracts the eye by the ceiling fresco gallery of Austrian Habsburgs. Today the chateau houses a museum.
In 1710 the Roman Emperor Joseph I decided to dispose of the castle. The front castle was bought by Znojmo burghers, who used the space to build a brewery, and the rear castle became the possession of the Lords of Deblin.
In 1710-1721 the new owners had a High-Baroque Chateau built, probably designed by the well-known Austrian architect J. B. Fischer von Erlach.
The derelict old castle was demolished and the new Chateau occupied the space of the old northern and eastern wings. In the place of the castle’s former southern and western wings, a spacious cour d’honneur was created, which was not oriented towards the city (as would have been usual), but towards the beautiful deep river canyon. The oval entrance hall of the chateau (the Ancestors’ Hall) has an interesting fresco, painted by J. M. Fiseé (born in the Austrian Netherlands – now Belgium), depicting the union of the Czech lands Bohemia, Moravia and Silesia.
The Chateau lost much of its charm at the end of the 18th century and in the 19th century when it was converted into a military hospital.
Today Deblin Chateau is maintained by the South Moravian Museum and houses a permanent historical exhibition.