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By 1287, a Gothic fortress with two towers stood proudly on a hill above the surrounding landscape — the medieval seat of Zdislav of Lemberk, whose descendants ruled here until 1504. In the 16th century, the estate passed to the noble House of Vartenberk, who transformed the original fortress into a more comfortable Renaissance château by the end of that century.

Zvířetice entered its golden era during the Baroque period, but its importance waned after the powerful Waldstein (Valdštejn) family — then owners of the estate — shifted their attention to other residences. The castle’s decline was sealed by two devastating fires, the first in 1693, and the second in 1720, which left the structure in ruins.

For many years, the abandoned site was forgotten. It wasn’t until the 19th century, with the rise of Romanticism, that travelers and artists began to rediscover the beauty of the ruins. Among those captivated by Zvířetice was Karel Hynek Mácha, one of the most celebrated Czech poets.

In recent years, the spirit of Zvířetice has been revived through a unique virtual reconstruction project — the first of its kind for a Czech ruin. Using advanced 3D graphics, experts recreated the castle as it looked in 1683, at the height of its architectural splendor, offering today’s visitors a vivid glimpse into its historic grandeur.

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