Budkov combines the history of a protected castle estate with a landscape that opens out from the village to distant viewpoints. The castle estate, with its extensive park, lies on the southern edge of the municipality. Budkov itself is situated in a broad hollow; in good visibility, the surrounding hills offer views as far as Austria. The castle, the architecture of Kostel sv. Martina, Farářova kaplička and a cycle route that runs through Budkov offer different starting points for planning a trip.

Castle Estate: Building History and Park

Budkov Castle was originally a water castle and was converted into a single-nave Renaissance castle with four wings around an enclosed courtyard. The east wing is complemented by a prismatic, inhabited entrance tower. Its building history thus combines the original water-castle type with the later Renaissance form.

The extensive castle park includes a pond with an island and artificial waterways. These features provide a different accent from the enclosed courtyard: the castle architecture is arranged in wings, while the park is defined by its water features. The first written references to Budkov date from 1353; Jan z Budkova is named as its first owner.

Architectural Details

Kostel sv. Martina offers a different kind of historical detail. In front of the west main portal is an entrance staircase of seven stone steps with a low balustrade. It is adorned with Baroque sculptures of Saint John of Nepomuk and Saint John Sarkander. While the castle draws attention to the overall layout of its four wings and courtyard, here the focus is on the decorated entrance area.

Hollow, Hill Country and Distant Views

Budkov lies in a broad hollow where the Bíhanka rises. The Markvartická pahorkatina rises to the north, east and west; it forms part of the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands. The landscape can therefore be understood both through the river’s source and through the surrounding hill country. In good visibility, views from the hills around Budkov reach as far as Kahlenberg and Leopoldsberg near Vienna in Austria. These distant views depend on visibility conditions and extend the closer perspective of the hollow and ridges to a wide horizon.

There is also a specific option to consider when planning a cycling trip: the Jihlava–Třebíč–Raabs cycle route passes through Budkov. Including this route in your plans lets you consider the village as part of a cycling trip as well as for its cultural attractions.

Chapel and Advent Tradition

Farářova kaplička is a small religious building near a forest. A local legend links it to the place where a priest froze to death. On the fourth Sunday of Advent, the chapel is the destination of a recurring pilgrimage from Budkov. In 2026, this tradition had been observed for 24 years. If you are planning a stay around the pilgrimage, check the date for your chosen year.

The chapel offers a different way to connect with the history of the village than the castle and church: here, a modest religious building, its location near a forest and a recurring tradition come together. The Advent date is particularly specific when deciding when Budkov might be of interest; the castle’s history, the park and the landscape provide additional topics relevant to planning a trip at any time.

Discover more destinations: Zahrádka, Breznik, Litovany, Bačice, Petrovice U Třebíče, Červená Lhota, Budišov, Jiratice.

For the broader travel overview: Okres Třebíč.