Budkov: Castle, Park and Landscape

Budkov combines a listed castle complex with an extensive park and a landscape between a broad depression and the surrounding hills. The Bíhanka rises in the depression where Budkov lies. To the north, east and west of the town, the Markvartická pahorkatina rises as part of the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands. This brings together several themes to consider when planning your trip: the castle’s architectural history, religious buildings and the transition from the depression to the ridges.

Castle Complex and Architectural History

The listed castle complex lies on the southern edge of the municipality. The castle was originally a water castle and was converted into a single-nave Renaissance castle. Four wings enclose a closed courtyard; the east wing is complemented by a prism-shaped, inhabited entrance tower. The water castle and the Renaissance castle represent successive architectural forms: the conversion resulted in a complex with four wings around an enclosed courtyard. This makes the basic layout easy to grasp, while the entrance tower is a distinctive feature of the east wing.

The extensive castle park includes a pond with an island and artificial waterways. These features create a different accent from the enclosed courtyard: the enclosed architecture is the focus there, while the park is shaped by bodies of water and waterways. The castle and park can therefore be viewed as two different sides of the complex: the architectural form on one hand and the landscaped water features on the other.

Religious Buildings and Traditions

In front of the western main portal of Kostel sv. Martina, an access staircase has seven stone steps. The low parapet is adorned with Baroque sculptures of Saint John of Nepomuk and Saint John Sarkander. Here, location and number come together: the staircase stands in front of the portal, while the two saints are depicted on the parapet. This is a specific architectural detail alongside the larger-scale forms of the castle complex.

Farářova kaplička is a small religious building near a forest. On the fourth Sunday of Advent, it is the destination of an annual pilgrimage from Budkov. In 2026, this tradition will have been observed for 24 years. A local legend links the chapel to the place where a priest froze to death. The chapel thus brings together a recurring Advent event and a traditional story, which is explicitly considered a legend. If you want the pilgrimage to determine your travel dates, check the specific date in advance.

Landscape and Travel Connections

In good visibility, the view from the hills around Budkov extends as far as Kahlenberg and Leopoldsberg near Vienna in Austria. This distant view complements the impression of the broad depression and the Markvartická pahorkatina, which rises to the north, east and west of the town. The landscape connections thus range from the source area of the Bíhanka and the named ridge to two Austrian hills. The distant view depends on good visibility.

According to a local travel description from 2026, the Jihlava–Třebíč–Raabs cycle route passes through Budkov. Together with the pilgrimage, this highlights the difference between two travel connections: the cycle route is identified as passing through the town, while the chapel is the destination of a pilgrimage on the fourth Sunday of Advent.

Budkov offers two distinct perspectives to consider when choosing a travel destination: the castle complex and the sculptures at the church portal provide architectural highlights, while the depression, ridges and distant views draw attention to the landscape. The pilgrimage adds a recurring seasonal occasion to these themes. You can therefore weigh whether architectural history, the surroundings or the Advent date should take priority on your trip.

Discover more destinations: Želetava, Hrotovice, Myslibořice, Bohušice, Slavičky, Hroznatín, Vlčatín, Lomy.

For the broader travel overview: Okres Třebíč.