Stránecká Zhoř: Castle History, Chapel and Černá kuchyně

Stránecká Zhoř is particularly suited to travelers who want to combine castle history, religious architecture and historical cooking culture in one destination. At its heart is the Renaissance castle; the Chapel of St. Bernard of Clairvaux provides a distinct architectural and religious focus, while the so-called Černá kuchyně offers a glimpse into historical cooking practices. These themes complement one another, but they are not the same kind of visit: architectural history describes developments over a longer period, while tours and demonstrations depend on specific dates. This is a useful distinction if you would like to plan your stay around a particular cultural event.

The Castle and Its Historical Building Phases

Stránecká Zhoř Castle is a Renaissance castle dating from the second half of the 16th century. It was built on the site of a Gothic fortress from the second half of the 14th century. This means that two clearly distinct building phases are represented here: the medieval fortress as its predecessor and the later Renaissance building. When placing the site in its architectural history, this sequence is more important than conflating the two designations. The origins of the Renaissance castle can thus be understood as a later phase built upon an older fortification.

Guided Tours on Specific Dates

Guided tours of the castle have been offered on several occasions. A guided tour was held during the open day for the municipality’s 2026 anniversary; a fourth guided tour was announced for August 7, 2026. This date has now passed. This helps distinguish a specific tour date from the castle’s enduring history.

Chapel: Reconstruction and Vault

The Chapel of St. Bernard of Clairvaux is located in the former castle in Stránecká Zhoř. It was rebuilt between 2004 and 2019 in the spirit of traditional construction; work on the interior may continue. At the same time, the chapel incorporates a former vault dating from the second half of the 16th century. The contrast between the older vault and the more recent reconstruction reveals different layers of time: one building element dates to the 16th century, while the renewed chapel belongs to a much more recent building phase. Mass is celebrated regularly in the chapel. As the Mass schedule may change, check the current date if it is important to your stay.

Černá kuchyně and Culinary Demonstrations

The restored so-called Černá kuchyně can be accessed from the castle courtyard; opening arrangements may vary. When in operation, it can be used for cooking, baking and roasting over an open fire. Culinary events featuring demonstrations based on historical recipes have been held regularly since 2014. At these events, the preparation of food takes center stage. The historical recipes give the demonstrations their distinctive connection to the past; the open fire is one of the activities described as possible in the reconstructed kitchen. If you are planning to travel for one of these events, check the dates before your trip.

Which Focus Suits Your Trip?

As a guide, the program can be organized according to your interests: those interested in architecture and history can follow the sequence from Gothic fortress to Renaissance castle, old vault and later reconstruction. Those planning their trip around a specific event may want to focus instead on a castle tour or the culinary demonstrations; Mass is another distinct occasion to consider. These are different ways to explore the topics mentioned. When planning your stay, first consider which of these occasions will shape your trip.

Discover more destinations: Bohdalec, Měřín, Pavlínov, Sklené, Chlum-Korouhvice, Velká Bíteš, Nová Ves U Nového Města Na Moravě, Borovnice

For the broader travel overview: Okres Žďár Nad Sázavou.