Lešná: Castle History, Park and Church Art

Lešná combines a rich castle history with an English landscape park and the Church of St. Michael. It appeals to travelers who want to combine culture and nature in one stay: the castle, park and ecclesiastical art each offer their own distinctive features. To plan your visit, you can first decide whether you are most interested in the history of the Kinský family, the plant life, or the frescoes and chapels.

Castle and Park: History and Plant Life

Zámek Lešná was created around the turn of the 16th and 17th centuries by converting a medieval fortress. The Kinský family shaped the castle’s present appearance; in 1887, it became their family residence. The castle’s history can thus be traced from its medieval origins through its conversion and its later transformation by the Kinský family. The Museum of the Valašsko Region currently manages the English landscape park; the castle lies in its northern section.

The municipality lists the park’s area as 7.22 hectares, while the museum gives 7.16 hectares. The grounds include a large collection, especially of exotic trees and shrubs. Thus, plant life is a central part of the site alongside its architecture. Visitors interested in the development of the park and its plants can explore another aspect of the grounds via the educational trail.

The educational trail, described in 2024, leads through the park and provides information about its plants, the history of the park and other topics. The information presented on site may change. The trail brings together botanical content and the historic character of the grounds, without separating the two topics.

The visitor announcement for 2026 lists two exhibitions at Zámek Lešná: “Tribute to the Kinský Family” and “Banknotes from Around the World.” A historic classroom has been set up in the former black kitchen room on the ground floor since October 6, 2012. It recalls the fact that a school once operated in the castle. The visitor information for 2026 also mentions a playroom for children—an explicitly listed offering for young visitors alongside the cultural and historical themes.

Church of St. Michael: Frescoes, Organ and Chapels

The Church of St. Michael offers a distinct focus for anyone interested in sacred art and architecture. Two ceiling frescoes date from 1750: above the presbytery is the Coronation of the Virgin Mary, and above the main nave is the battle of St. Michael with the fallen angels. The church also has an organ dating from 1885. Two chapels are dedicated to St. Valentine and St. John of Nepomuk. In 1972, the Church of St. Michael was designated a National Cultural Monument.

The bells are also part of the church’s history. The tower had three: St. Michael weighed 1,000 kg, St. John 560 kg and St. Valentine 261 kg. Their different weights give each bell its own scale; together, they add to the picture of a building whose features developed over several centuries.

Near the church, Bessova Chapel dates from 1827 and contains three burial sites. Kinských Chapel was built in 1892–1893; there are six burial sites to the left of the chapel. The two chapels add further tangible examples of local sacred history to a visit to the church.

Two of the five chapels along a Way of the Cross on the former field road to Vysoká have survived. If you plan to visit these historic buildings, check on site whether they are accessible.

Highlights for Your Stay

These themes can help you decide what kind of stay you want before looking for a hotel in Lešná: the castle’s history and the exhibitions announced for 2026 provide a cultural and historical focus; the park and educational trail draw attention to trees, shrubs and the landscape. The Church of St. Michael, in turn, brings frescoes, an organ and chapels together in its own distinct setting.

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Back to the main travel overview: Okres Vsetín.