Bučovice Chateau, Renaissance chateau in Bucovice, Czech Republic

Bučovice Chateau is a Renaissance palazzo in fortezza built in 1575–1585 for Jan Šembera of Boskovice to designs by Pietro Gabri. Three wings with arcades of 96 slender columns with Ionic, Roman and Corinthian capitals enclose a rectangular courtyard; the fourth side is a blind wall with an arcade screen. A Mannerist fountain by Giovanni Giacomo Tencalla stands in the courtyard.

The chateau was built from scratch in 1575 on open ground following Italian design principles rather than copying older castle traditions. This choice made it one of the first buildings in the region designed entirely according to Renaissance ideals.

The chateau takes its name from the town of Bučovice, not from a noble family. Its halls are named for their decoration: the Hall of the Five Senses, the Bird Room, the Imperial Room, the Hare Room and the Venus Room. The Imperial Room's stucco equestrian figures are considered unique in Bohemia and Moravia.

The chateau sits about 26 kilometers east of Brno and is easy to reach. Guided tours lead you through the rooms and outdoor areas, where you should take time to explore the courtyard and gardens.

On 22 June 1645 the chateau withstood an attack by a larger Swedish force while the town itself was plundered. The four corner towers added in the 1630s carried metal lanterns that had to be taken down one by one because of their weight.