Ratměřice – Castle Park, Giant Sequoias and History

Ratměřice combines castle history with an expansive park, distinctive trees and paths with historical connections. At its center is Ratměřice Castle: It was built in the Baroque style at the beginning of the 18th century. Otto Chotek remodeled the castle into its Neorenaissance form, which has been preserved to this day. Visitors can admire the distinctive Neoclassical façade of Ratměřice Castle and stroll through the expansive castle park. This places architectural history and the park landscape directly alongside each other on a single walk.

Castle Park with Exceptional Trees

Two giant sequoias in Ratměřice Castle Park are particularly striking; Count Chotek planted them. They are over 45 m tall, estimated to be around 150 years old, and are considered the largest in the Czech Republic. Their size makes them prominent features within the park landscape without obscuring the view of the other plantings. Twenty-nine conifer species and 60 species of deciduous trees or shrubs have been identified in the castle park. This means the park can be experienced not only as the setting of the castle, but also as a diverse collection of different woody plants. For a peaceful walk, it combines old trees, additional plantings and historic architectural forms.

The Church of St. Havel and the History of the Village

The Church of St. Havel is part of Ratměřice's history. During restoration research, Gothic paintings were uncovered in the chancel in 2008. A dendrochronological examination, that is, dating based on tree rings, dated the origin of the roof structure to 1406. The historical span of the village therefore extends from the Baroque and Neorenaissance history of the castle to a medieval part of the church's structure. The spring in Ratměřice is also part of the local tradition: The water was traditionally attributed with healing properties.

Paths, Views and an Active Break

The Běhej bojiště Jankov–Zvěstovská route leads through Ratměřice to the Dům sedláka Oneše house by Jordánek Pond. There are benches for resting both by the pond and at the house. Another route in the surrounding area leads from the Battle of Jankov Monument along a farm track that climbs gently uphill and offers views of Ratměřice and its castle. The two routes therefore have different focuses: By the pond and at the house, taking a break is an option, while the farm track opens up views of the village and castle. Historical destinations, the landscape and physical activity can thus be combined along separate paths.

The sports area in Ratměřice includes a football pitch and a natural-style children's playground. Those traveling with children will find another clearly defined place for activity and time spent outdoors there, in addition to the castle park. Depending on their interests, visitors can make their stay focus more on the history of the castle and church, the distinctive trees and shrubs, or paths, views and an active break. The different locations give the stay several distinct focal points, without merging the castle, park, church and sports area into a single attraction.

More Destinations

For further research on the Czech Republic, you can also view Hradiště, Chlum, Křečovice, Krhanice, Střezimíř, Ctiboř, Merin and Libež.

For the higher-level travel overview: Benešov District.