Jindřichův Hradec: Castle, Narrow-Gauge Railway and Educational Trail

Jindřichův Hradec combines an impressive cultural history with special experiences in the landscape of South Bohemia. Between the castle and chateau grounds, museums, a historic narrow-gauge railway and the Jindrova Educational Trail, you will find a variety of starting points for planning your trip.

Culture between the Castle, Monastery and Weaving

The selected tour through the castle and chateau grounds leads through buildings and interiors dating from the Late Gothic to the High Renaissance periods. It begins in the Late Gothic Black Kitchen and ends in the Rondel music pavilion. This allows the visit to be experienced as a clearly structured sequence of different historic rooms.

An extraordinary sight is Krýzovy Jesličky, the world's largest folk mechanical nativity scene. It contains around 1,400 figures of people and animals, 133 of which are moving. The Church of St John the Baptist is one of the most valuable architectural monuments in South Bohemia. Together with the Minorite Monastery, it houses permanent exhibitions on the religious art of Jindřichův Hradec, the “Tree of Life” and Tomáš Krýza's anamorphic portrait.

The former Minorite Monastery is administered by the Jindřichohradecko Museum and now serves as a cultural and educational centre. At the House of Tapestries, a permanent exhibition presents the history of weaving in Jindřichův Hradec and the work of Marie Teinitzerová. There, you can observe hand weaving on horizontal and vertical looms. In 2026, the centre will also offer creative workshops on traditional and newer crafts.

Modern visual and media history is also represented. The permanent exhibition “The Power of Media” explores key moments in photographic, film and audiovisual technology, as well as their social function. The Museum of Photography and Modern Visual Media offers the general public guided tours with practical demonstrations of the principles of imaging and recording.

Narrow-Gauge Railway, Educational Trail and Viewpoints

The Jindřichův Hradec–Nová Bystřice narrow-gauge railway line dates from 1897. It runs through the Česká Kanada landscape towards the Austrian border, thus combining a historic railway route with a distinctive landscape region.

For a more detailed exploration of the surrounding area, the Jindrova Educational Trail follows a red-marked hiking route between Jindřichův Hradec and Malý Ratmírov. The route is approximately 13 kilometres long and runs along the rocky bed of the Hamerský potok through the Jindřišské Valley, with rocky slopes and rubble forests.

Another distinctive landmark is the town's observation tower by the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. It is 68.3 metres high. In clear weather, the Hvězdárna prof. Františka Nušla offers sky observations with telescopes.

When choosing your accommodation, you can first determine your preferred focus: the castle, museums and historic interiors, a journey through Česká Kanada, a longer educational trail or a special experience under a clear night sky.

More Places for Your Research

Also include Zahrádky, Lužnice, Horní Němčice, Starý Bozdechov, Červený Hrádek, Březina U Deštné, Báňovice and Pluhův Žďár in your further travel planning.

For the higher-level travel overview: Jindřichův Hradec District.