Prostějov Castle, Renaissance château in Prostějov, Czech Republic

Prostějov Castle is a free-standing single-storey building with four wings around a rectangular courtyard, built in the 16th century and remodelled in the early 20th century. Its facade facing the historic centre has an asymmetrically placed portal with a superstructure bearing the coats of arms of Vratislav of Pernštejn and his Spanish wife Marie Manrique de Lara y Mendoza, a triangular gable and the Liechtenstein emblem. A broad band of sgraffito decoration runs under the roof cornice and between the rectangular stone-framed windows.

Jan of Pernštejn built the castle between 1522 and 1526 as a defensive structure for the town. Later renovations between 1568 and 1572 transformed it with Renaissance styling and design.

The castle's courtyard hosts the Letní scéna summer programme with a stage, and the space can be rented for cultural or social events. During the school year the castle runs workshops and educational programmes for pupils, alongside Easter and Advent events and creative workshops for children and adults.

The castle stands at the edge of the historic centre, separated from Pernštýnské Square by a decorated cast-iron railing with two lanterns. The entrance portal faces the old town. Guided tours run from May, and the courtyard with its stage can be hired for events.

A deep moat ringed by an iron fence was dug around the castle to hold non-Catholics imprisoned here after Karel I of Liechtenstein acquired it around 1600. The moat survives and is often open to walk through. The entrance portal above the gate carries the coats of arms of Vratislav of Pernštejn and his Spanish wife María Manrique de Lara.