Žehušice: Holiday Apartments and Holiday Homes

In Žehušice, landscapes, architectural history and musical tradition come together. The town’s special features range from a long-standing wildlife-keeping tradition to distinctive chateau and religious buildings.

Nature

In its present form, the Žehušická Game Reserve has existed since 1867, covers 270 hectares and lies between Žehušice and Bojmany. For more than 150 years, it has been home to one of the world’s few herds of white deer; the municipality’s website gives its population as approximately 130 animals. The former dam of the Kravinec pond forms the main circular trail through the Žehušická Game Reserve.

The chateau park in Žehušice contains rare woody plants and is considered a dendrological site. It is not open to the public.

Chateau and Local History

Žehušice Chateau was built in 1679 by Francesco Carati in the Baroque style and remodelled in the Empire style in 1826 by Count Josef Matyáš Thun. The Old Chateau, Starý zámek, preserves the core of a Gothic fortress that was rebuilt in the 16th century. The façades retain remnants of sgraffito, as well as a Gothic gate, a Renaissance portal and Renaissance window surrounds.

Žehušice Chateau is currently not open to the public. The historic buildings also include Žehušice’s historic brewery building, constructed at the end of the 17th century and featuring a Baroque exterior, as well as the estate granary complex, described as the oldest Renaissance tower granary in the district, with loophole-like windows.

Music and Religious Architecture

Starý zámek in Žehušice is considered the birthplace of the horn virtuoso Jan Václav Stich, who became known in Italy as Giovanni Punto. The music festival “Slavnost lesního rohu” is dedicated to him and takes place every year in June in Žehušice.

The Church of St. Mark (Kostel sv. Marka) is a late Baroque building dating from 1760; it can be visited during regular services.

Other Locality Pages

Other locality pages: Nepoměřice, Záboří Nad Labem, Horky, Malešov, Schořov, Krchleby, Souňov, Mocovice

For the higher-level travel overview: Okres Kutná Hora.