The castle brewery in Jindřichův Hradec opened today after a renovation costing 512 million CZK

Jindřichův Hradec – The Castle Brewery in Jindřichův Hradec, dating back to the 16th century, which had been decaying for decades and was damaged by a fire in 2011, opened to the public today. The renovation of this national cultural monument cost the city 512 million crowns excluding VAT, with nearly half covered by grants. In the extensive area, beer Jindra has started brewing, which people can taste at the brewery restaurant Smetana. In September, the city will launch a multifunctional cultural hall, Mayor Michal Kozár (ANO) told reporters.

The investment in the brewery, which the city purchased ten years ago, is one of the largest in the history of Jindřichův Hradec. The city hall looked for a use for the dilapidated and burned-out monument for a long time. The renovation, supported by grants totaling 245 million crowns, began in 2024. "The outer walls and vaults were preserved. The part that was changed is from the first floor in the foyer, where old wooden elements were damaged due to the fire and were replaced, but in a way that preserved the overall appearance of the building," the mayor stated.

Beer began to be brewed at the castle brewery after nearly 60 years. The city hall required that the name of the beer be connected to the city when seeking an operator, thus it is called Jindra. The brewery and restaurant are operated by the company Kapitán JIH, which supplied technology and equipment worth tens of millions of crowns. "My colleague and I have talked for many years about wanting to brew beer in Hradec because there was a long-standing tradition here. And when this opportunity came, it was a clear choice," said investor Oliver Dlouhý, founder of the flight search engine Kiwi.com. The capacity allows for the brewing of 8,000 hectoliters per year; this year, the brewery expects to produce 3,000 hectoliters.

The modern design in the Smetana Restaurant connects the building with the present. Historical vaults remained exposed along with traces of the fire-damaged murals. However, they are decorated with original chandeliers and lights, and a tap in the shape of an organ has been custom-made for the restaurant. "We are incorporating sophisticated, instantly recognizable design, which does not affect the historical content of the object at all, but works there like inserted jewels," described architect and native of Jindřichův Hradec Jan Klaška.

The restaurant is named Smetana after the composer who spent part of his childhood in the building. His father worked as a brewer at the brewery. Young Bedřich also suffered an injury in Jindřichův Hradec that likely caused his later deafness. The restoration of Smetana's house, which is adjacent to the brewery, is currently being prepared by the city.

The brewery was built in the castle area in Jindřichův Hradec between 1580 and 1582 by architect and builder Baldassare Maggi from Arogna. In the 19th century, the building underwent modernization and reconstruction. After 1945, the area was nationalized and remained in operation until 1967. Subsequently, the national company Fruta produced local rum with a sailboat until the 1990s. However, since the 1990s, the building has been deteriorating uncontrollably. The state of emergency was worsened by a fire caused by children playing in 2011. The city purchased the building in 2016 and looked for a use for the expansive structure for a long time.