Telč

A UNESCO World Heritage town in the Moravian highlands, where colourful Renaissance gables line a long square ringed by fishponds; known as the "Pearl of Moravia".

Telč lies in the southwest of the Vysočina Region in the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands of the Czech Republic. Home to about 5,000 people, it is roughly 200 km from Prague, 110 km from Brno and 190 km from Vienna. The town is surrounded by three fishponds. After a great fire in the 16th century, its lord, Zachariáš of Hradec, rebuilt the whole town in Renaissance style, leaving behind the roughly 300 m long Zachariáš of Hradec Square, lined on both sides by arcaded houses with colourful gables, and an Italian-style château. Telč was added to the World Heritage list in 1992 and is known as the "Pearl of Moravia". What to see: the old town core of the square, the château and its gardens, the Church of the Holy Spirit tower and St James' Church can all be covered on foot; beyond the small town gate is a footpath around the fishponds. The surroundings are best explored by car: visit Roštejn Castle, the Jihlava underground labyrinth, Slavonice and Landštejn Castle, or go further to the World Heritage church at Zelená Hora and the water château of Červená Lhota. The best season is May to September, when all château tours are running and the square's outdoor cafés are at their most pleasant; there is a folk festival in August. In winter most castles and towers are closed, but the square is wonderfully quiet after snowfall. Getting there: long-distance buses from Prague Florenc or Brno take about 2–3 hours (some require a change in Jihlava); by train you must change onto a branch line with few services, so driving is the most convenient. One day is enough; stay overnight to photograph the empty square in the early morning, or allow 2 days to add the nearby castles. Note: château and church tours are mostly in Czech, and most sites are closed on Mondays; restaurants in town close fairly early in the evening; some castles accept cash only or require advance booking.

Top sights

• Zachariáš of Hradec Square – A long, narrow square about 300 meters in length, lined on both sides by Renaissance and Baroque gabled houses joined by arcades. It is the…
• Telč Chateau – A Renaissance château at the north end of the square, with gilded wooden ceilings in the Golden, Blue and African halls, hunting trophies…
• Church of the Holy Spirit Tower – Telč's oldest building, a 13th-century Romanesque tower you can climb for views over the colourful square and the surrounding fishponds.
• St. James the Elder Church – A Gothic parish church beside the castle, whose roughly 60-metre bell tower is the star of Telč's skyline.
• Church of the Name of Jesus – A 17th-century Baroque Jesuit church in the northwest corner of the square, its twin-tower facade echoing the gabled houses around it.
• Ulický Pond – A fishpond on the southern side of the old town, where a lakeside path offers the classic view of the backs of the square's houses and the…
• Pilgrimage Church of St John of Nepomuk at Zelená Hora – A five-pointed star-shaped Baroque-Gothic pilgrimage church designed by Santini, a World Heritage Site near Žďár nad Sázavou, about one hou…
• Slavonice – A border town about 25 km south of Telč, its two squares lined with well-preserved Renaissance sgraffito houses, and with fewer visitors th…
• Jihlava Underground – A medieval cellar network about 25 km long beneath Jihlava's old town, where guided tours include a mysterious tunnel that glows.
• Roštejn Castle – A Gothic castle in the forest about 10 km northwest of Telč, whose heptagonal tower can be climbed for views over the Vysočina uplands.
• Landštejn Castle – A 13th-century Romanesque castle ruin near Slavonice, one of the largest Romanesque castles in Central Europe; climb its tower for views ov…
• Červená Lhota Chateau – A Renaissance château with a red roof and white walls on a rocky islet in a lake, its reflection like a fairy tale; one of the most photoge…

Where to eat

• Restaurant Švejk – A traditional Czech restaurant at the end of the square, right by the castle, with a terrace facing the colorful arcade…
• Friends Bistro Café – An old-town bistro in Telč recommended by Gault&Millau and Lonely Planet, popular for its brunch, Italian coffee and Mo…
• Panský dvůr Restaurant & Brewery – A house-brewery restaurant in a manor complex in Telč's castle district, serving four regionally certified house beers…

Itineraries

• Bohemia to Moravia by Train & Bus – Explore the highlights of the Czech Republic without a car: Prague, Český Krumlov, Telč, Brno, and Olomouc.
• Czech Republic Grand Self-Drive Loop – Drive a loop around the Czech Republic, connecting spa towns, Český Krumlov, Moravian wine country, and Olomouc.