The Pearl of Vyšočina, Moravian Venice…those are two of several nicknames of the town of Telč with a unique center on the UNESCO List of World Heritage Sites.
Telč is a town in southwest Moravia, in the Vysočina region and very close to the border with the South-Bohemian region. We visited Telč on our way to Český Krumlov and České Budějovice.
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From a chapel to a flourishing town
According to a local legend, when Otto II defeated Břetislav in 1099, he had a chapel built to commemorate the battle. Then he added a whole church, a settlement and finally, a town, today’s Old Town or Staré Město. The first historical records come from 1335 and the town continued to grow until the 16th century when it flourished when Zachariáš z Hradce took ownership of the local castle. The wealthy and enlightened nobleman not only rebuilt the castle but also added a château and funded the reconstruction of the citizens’ houses to the typical look of the Old Town as we know it today – houses with gable walls and the typical arcade (reconstruction was necessary also due to the fire that destroyed a big part of the wooden buildings). He also funded a hospital, water piping and much more.
The 19th century brought industrialization as well as national awareness. Several associations were established, such as Sokol. In 1992, the historical center of the town was added to the List of World Heritage Sites.
What to see in Telč
If you have only a little time in Telč, the first place you’ll probably want to see is the Inner Town’s square náměstí Zachariáše z Hradce with its Gothic and Renaissance houses and arcade with Gothic, Baroque and Classicistic gables.
The west end of the square will lead you to the Renaissance château and the Chapel of All Saints, the resting place of Zachariáš z Hradce and his wife Kateřina z Valdštejna. And if you want to see more church buildings, the former Jesuite college (now Lanner’s house) with the Church of Jesus’ Name and the St. Jacob’s Church are the places to go. The tower of the Church of the Holy Spirit offers a view of the town center.
Going back to the château which is the Renaissance dominant of the town, one of the unique things about it is that you can admire the original interiors. The château which is colloquially called the Rose of Vysočina was the filming site for several movies, including the Czech fairy-tales Pyšná princezna (Proud Princess), Jak se budí princezny (How to wake up a princess) and Z pekla štěstí (Helluva Good Luck). The building underwent a revitalization between 2020 and 2022 that allowed for this sight to be open all year round. If you’d like to visit, you can the the visiting routes and purchase online tickets here.
This mansion is surrounded by three ponds which you can walk around following the trail called Město a voda (Town and Water)
If that walk isn’t enough, you can follow the path called Way of the Cross towards the Chapel of St. Charles Boromeo on the hillock at the town’s margins (red tourist trail mark).
And since Telč used to be home also to the Czech Jewish community, you can visit the local synagogue and Jewish cemetery.
Telč Underground
The residents of the houses on the main square built a system of cellars under their houses and part of the area of the château has cellars as well. The cellars have up to two floors and are connected with corridors. The underground part of town served as storage and also a place for the people of the town to hide from their enemies. According to a legend, one of the corridors led to the Rodštejn castle. 250 m of the corridors and cellars are open for visits and a part of the system even has an exposition dedicated to the hell and the children can play a game during which they look for a hidden treasure. You can purchase tickets here.
Would you like to go on a virtual tour in Telč? You can do so here.
Where to Stay in Telč
If you stay in Telč for more than a day, you can make hiking or bike trips to see the beautiful nature that surrounds the town and visits the nearby castles. Here’s where you can stay:
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