Ratměřice: Castle, Park and Local History

Ratměřice brings together several themes that you can prioritize differently during your stay: the history of the castle, the Church of St. Havel, the castle park with its giant sequoias, and routes through the town or its surroundings. If you are looking for a hotel in Ratměřice, these themes provide a concrete framework for planning your trip. Depending on your interests, architecture and local history, a walk in the castle park, or an outdoor route may take center stage.

Castle History and Park

Ratměřice Castle was built in the Baroque style at the beginning of the 18th century. Otto Chotek later transformed it into the Neo-Renaissance form that has been preserved to this day. The transition from its Baroque origins to its preserved Neo-Renaissance appearance provides a common thread through the castle’s history. Visitors can admire its distinctive façade and stroll through the castle park. The building’s design takes center stage at the façade, while the park offers a second side to the castle visit as you walk around.

Giant Sequoias and Tree Diversity

Two giant sequoias planted by Count Chotek grow in the castle park. They are over 45 meters tall, estimated to be about 150 years old, and considered the largest in the Czech Republic. In addition to these two distinctive trees, 29 conifer species and 60 species of deciduous trees or shrubs have been identified in the park. The connection with nature therefore ranges from exceptional individual trees to a diverse landscape of trees and shrubs. On a walk, you can focus on the giant sequoias or take in the wider mix of conifers, deciduous trees and shrubs.

Church of St. Havel

The history of the Church of St. Havel includes Gothic paintings in the chancel, uncovered during restoration investigations in 2008. A dendrochronological study dated the origin of the roof structure to 1406. This date applies to the origin of the structure, not generally to every roof element still present today. Thus, the church’s history brings together the Gothic decoration of the chancel and the architectural dating of the roof structure.

Routes and Local Attractions

The Běhej bojiště Jankov–Zvěstovská route passes through Ratměřice to the Dům sedláka Oneše house by the Jordánek pond. There are benches to rest on both by the pond and at the house. Another route in the area around Ratměřice leads from the Battle of Jankov monument along a gently uphill field path, with views of Ratměřice and its castle along the way. The routes have different focuses: the first leads to a house and pond with benches, while the second offers a gentle climb along a field path and views of the town and castle. This comparison can help you decide whether to include a named destination with benches for a rest or a scenic route in your travel plans.

The sports area in Ratměřice includes a football pitch and a natural-style children’s playground. The water from the spring in Ratměřice was traditionally believed to have healing properties.

Discover more destinations: Tichonice, Křivsoudov, Chotýšany, Křečovice, Týnec Nad Sázavou, Ctiboř, Slapanov, Chářovice.

For the broader travel overview: Benešov District.