A Renaissance town square lined with colorful 16th-century burgher houses, recognized as a UNESCO site. The facades have preserved their original sgraffito decorations.
Telč, a small town in the Vysočina Region of Czechia, has a triangular Renaissance square where you'll walk under covered arcades past 16th-century houses painted in yellows, pinks, and greens. The town's château contains the Golden Hall with its carved wooden ceiling, while three ponds circle the historic center, their paths leading you past water reflections of the town's gabled houses.
Exploring Zachariáše z Hradce Square
The main square stretches in a triangular shape, with Renaissance houses rising on all sides. Each building's façade tells its own story through sgraffito patterns and painted decorations, some dating to the 1500s. The covered arcades running along the buildings shelter small shops and cafes. A Baroque fountain and plague column stand in the center, both from the 18th century.
Inside Telč Château
At the northern end of the square, the château opens its doors to several decorated rooms. The Golden Hall's ceiling features intricate wooden carvings above walls lined with family portraits. In the African Hall, you'll find hunting trophies collected during 19th-century expeditions. The Chapel of All Saints contains white stucco decorations covering its walls and ceiling, while outside, paths wind through an English-style park.
Getting to Telč
Trains run from Jihlava to Telč with a change in Kostelec u Jihlavy, taking between 1 and 1.5 hours. Direct buses connect Telč with Prague, Brno, and České Budějovice, often faster than train connections. Both the bus and train stations are located within a 10-minute walk from the historic center.
Three Ponds and Walking Paths
Štěpnický and Ulický ponds flank the historic center, with a third pond completing what was once the town's defense system. Walking paths follow the shorelines, and in summer you can rent rowing boats on Štěpnický pond to see the town from the water.
Underground Passages
Below the town's streets, a network of passages contains modern exhibits about Telč's history. The main chamber uses touchscreens and projected displays to tell stories about medieval life and town development through multimedia presentations.
Film Location History
Directors have chosen Telč as their filming location since the 1950s. Werner Herzog filmed "Woyzeck" here in 1979, while the château has appeared in Czech fairy tale films including "The Proud Princess" (1952) and "Z pekla štěstí" (1999).
