A stay in Žampach can revolve around two specific themes: the arboretum’s tree collection and the history of the castle and town. There is also a historic route to the castle hill and publicly accessible displays in the Lapidarium. This gives you several ways to plan your visit without having to combine individual places into a fixed itinerary.

The Arboretum: Trees for Every Season

Žampach Arboretum is open to the public year-round, free of charge, subject to its visitor rules. Its collection comprises around 700 species and cultivars of woody plants, including species rarely represented in the Czech Republic. As the collection may gradually change, this figure should be understood as an approximate number. Together, the species and cultivars create a clear botanical focus for your stay.

Public access is subject to the visitor conditions stated above. Before you arrive, check the arboretum’s current rules and take them into account when planning your visit.

Via the Zámecká lávka to the Castle Hill

The wooden Zámecká lávka dates from 1886. Today, it is the starting point of a route leading from the upper castle park to the castle hill and the path “around the castle.” The bridge therefore marks a specific access route to this area. Maintenance work may temporarily affect access infrastructure; if you plan to take the route, check the conditions before your visit.

Žampach Castle was built during the colonisation at the turn of the 13th and 14th centuries. Historically, it served to defend and administer the estate and protect important regional land and trade routes. These functions show that the castle was not only a defensive structure, but also played a role in administration and regional connections.

Buildings and Castle History

The Baroque Chapel of St Bartholomew is a registered cultural monument, registration number 4167, and forms part of the early Baroque chateau in Žampach. It is equipped for public concerts and cultural events for residents of the local care home. The events on offer may vary. The wooden bell tower stands in the centre of the town and dates from the early 19th century.

Another dated testimony is the estate pillory of 1693, the oldest surviving stonework in Žampach. Today, it stands on the rise between the foot of the castle hill and the chateau park. The bell tower and pillory mark two different periods in the town’s history; the chapel also has its Baroque classification and protected-monument status.

The publicly accessible Lapidarium features photographic documentation and a plan of Žampach Castle with descriptions of its individual parts. It also displays archaeological finds and information about where they were discovered. This lets you explore the castle’s architectural layout and the finds as different ways of learning about its history.

Getting Around and Practical Information

There are signposts with route information around the grounds. The Žampach Information Centre offers areas open to the public during the day, on a terrace and in a basement room, with small self-service refreshments and Wi-Fi. Availability of these facilities may depend on operating conditions; check the latest information if you plan to use them during your visit.

For the public toilet by the conservatory on the ground floor of the chateau building, you can get the key from the Information Centre. If you wish to use this facility, allow for this extra step in your plans. A stay in Žampach therefore offers both historic places to visit and practical visitor information and facilities.

Discover more destinations: Plchovice, Krasíkov, Řepníky, Lichkov, Nemcí, Sopotnice, Podlesí, Vinary

For the broader travel overview: Ústí nad Orlicí District.