Měšice Castle, Baroque château in Měšice, Tábor, Czech Republic

Měšice Castle is a Baroque château on the eastern edge of Tábor, in the Měšice district about 2 km from the centre. It began as a Renaissance fortified manor built in 1545 and was rebuilt in Baroque form in 1699; in 1817 it gained an Empire-style staircase and an Empire façade.

Prokop of Hejlovec built a Renaissance fortress in Měšice in 1545. In 1699 Count Jan Josef Caretto of Millesimo rebuilt it as a Baroque castle. In 1817 Jan Schmidtgräber of Lustenegg added an Empire staircase and gave the exterior an Empire facade; after 1877 it belonged to the Nádherný barons of Borutín.

The castle displays furniture from the estates of historical figures: Reinhard Heydrich's dining table and sofa, Clementine Churchill's desk and leather sofa, and Jan Masaryk's 1901 Art Nouveau bed. A chest of drawers with a mirror belonged to Claus Schenk von Stauffenberg, and an Art Nouveau bedroom set to Aristide Briand.

Visiting requires some planning, especially if coming as a larger group. It is best to contact ahead and allow time to explore the rooms and grounds properly.

The castle still operates water toilets installed in 1792 by John Hannygar of Eberg, demonstrating advanced plumbing technology from that era. Few visitors expect to find such early hydraulic systems still functioning in a structure of this age.