Žerotice combines a castle past with church art and local customs. Those interested in historic architectural styles will find a wide variety of details here: from a few surviving parts of an old Gothic church and castle ruins to a grain store with unusually shaped openings. The Jevišovka and the celebrations that mark the seasons broaden the picture to include the landscape and local traditions. You can tailor your stay to your specific interests.

Castle Ruins and History

The ruins of Žerotice Castle lie on the southern edge of the village. The surviving structures include a Renaissance vaulted room, masonry reaching up to the first floor, supporting pillars and the remains of a prismatic tower. The complex also includes an originally walled moat, which is now largely filled in. The remains described here range from an interior space to defensive features.

One distinction is important when dating the site: the village of Žerotice and a small multi-storey castle building are mentioned in 1259; the fortress is explicitly documented in 1358. Later Renaissance alterations changed the fortress. In 1643, Swedish troops captured it and set it on fire. These events provide a historical context for the ruins without conflating the early mention with the later documentation of the fortress.

Churches and Distinctive Architectural Features

The presbytery, an old baptismal font and a stone holy water stoup have survived from the old Gothic church. The church’s main altar and two side altars were made of marble and plaster in 1775 by the Znojmo sculptor Šebestián Centner. The side altars are dedicated to Saint James and to Jesus, Mary and Joseph. This church is notable for its surviving architectural features, sculptural work and religious dedications.

The parish church, dedicated to Saint Martin, stands in the northeastern part of Žerotice. Its park-like grounds are enclosed by a wall. The site can be accessed from the south, via steps from the footpath through the main gate, or from the east through a side door. Check local conditions before visiting. Its location distinguishes the church grounds from the castle ruins on the southern edge of the village, making it easier to plan visits to the two sites separately.

The rectory also adds to the village’s history: it was completed in 1832 and has a sundial on its façade. Another building with distinctive details is the three-storey grain store. Its characteristic curved gables and unusual groups of three openings shaped like a compressed figure eight give it a distinctive architectural appearance. By contrast, the feature that stands out at the rectory is its sundial, while at the grain store it is the gables and openings.

Festivals and Wine Tradition

The Svatomartinské posvícení, or St Martin’s feast, is scheduled to take place in Žerotice on 14 and 15 November 2026. The date and venue may change; if you are planning specifically for the festival, check the details in advance. An ethnographic report from 2025 describes that year’s festivities, which included a Saturday social event aimed mainly at young people and a Sunday procession through the village, followed by the Zavádění.

Žerotice observes the tradition of a masked procession for Masopust. An ethnographic report from 2025 also describes the blessing of Easter pastries and eggs in the church; when it is possible to attend may vary. Wine enthusiasts are also part of the local calendar: they regularly display their wine samples at the end of April. Specific dates may vary, so check the latest information before planning your visit around these events.

The Jevišovka in the Žerotice Area

The Jevišovka flows through the cadastral area of Žerotice and is included in the Natura 2000 network of protected areas. This adds a perspective focused on the landscape and nature conservation to the history of the castle, churches and other buildings. Cultural history, local customs and the protected Jevišovka offer different points of interest when planning a stay in Žerotice.

Discover more destinations: Dobřínsko, Borotice, Tasovice Nad Dyjí, Běhařovice, Horní Dunajovice, Mikulovice, Šafov, Jiřice U Moravských Budějovic.

For the broader travel overview: Znojmo District.