Location Tour Introduces Filmmakers to South Bohemia: Jindřichův Hradec & Czech Canada

Historic towns, dramatic châteaus, authentic period spaces, Baroque interiors with intriguing underground tunnels, mid-to-late 20th-century architecture, and quintessential South Bohemian countryside - these were just a few of the film locations featured during a two-day location scouting trip through Jindřichův Hradec and the scenic Czech Canada region on 15–16 September, hosted by the Czech Film Commission in partnership with the South Bohemia Film Office.

Location tours aim to introduce industry professionals to fresh, under-the-radar settings that haven't yet been widely featured on screen. Scouting in person allows filmmakers to explore sites firsthand, take photographs, and build direct relationships with local film offices and regional contacts who help streamline production logistics.

So, how did this year’s line-up resonate with the group? Josef Kropáček, a production officer from Czech Television (Česká televize), singled out the Nová Bystřice Veteran Car Museum - housed in a converted textile mill - as his personal highlight. From a logistical standpoint, he saw immediate potential in Jindřichův Hradec Château and Slavonice's main square: "With both of these locations, I can easily see myself bringing a full film crew out here." While familiar with some stops, others were new discoveries: "I’ll be adding my photos from the trip straight into the ČT location database for our production teams to use during early development."

Producer Tomáš Vach also walked away with concrete ideas for future projects. Beyond the historic center of Jindřichův Hradec, he was particularly struck by Český Rudolec Château: "It’s an unusual, striking building - even in its current state - that feels underused from a filmmaking perspective. It would make a fantastic backdrop for a crime drama." He also highlighted the distinctive atmosphere at the Osika Campsite, describing it as "a nostalgic spot with a wonderfully eerie, mysterious vibe."

Versatility and Cinematic Potential

For Ivana Štefanová of Filmmakers - one of the country's leading location agencies since its founding in 2021, securing sites for dozens of projects every year - picking just one standout was tough. "Any location that is accessible and workable for production holds real value for us." Even well-known sites can offer new angles during a tour. For instance, while her agency knew Dačice Château well, they hadn't yet fully documented its interiors for their archives. "Every new or updated film location helps us pitch more effectively."

Highlighting this versatility is central to why the Film Commission hosts these tours. "A site that might not fit one project could easily be the exact right match for another," explains Štefanová. Kropáček agrees: "It happens all the time - a location manager or production designer suggests a spot that looks nothing like what's on the page, but suddenly everything clicks. In this business, you never say never."

By bringing managers and producers directly into the region, location tours put key sites firmly on the radar for upcoming film and TV projects. And South Bohemia certainly delivers. Here’s a look at where this tour took us:

Jindřichův Hradec Hospital & Polyclinic    

Our first stop was the hospital complex in Jindřichův Hradec, which offers an authentic period aesthetic spanning several decades. Older utility corridors connecting the pavilions - including underground sections - retain their original mid-century character. The grounds also feature a fully operational laundry facility with vintage machinery, alongside spacious disused garages that offer versatile production potential.

Jindřichův Hradec Château

We then moved on to the château, an extensive complex that - together with the surrounding historic quarter - offers a rich mix of Gothic and Renaissance backdrops. With its Gothic palace, the Black Tower, Renaissance arcades, Rondel pavilion, period interiors, and narrow medieval streets, it easily adapts to both historic and modern storylines. The complex recently served as a primary filming location for the fantasy series The Wheel of Time.

Historic Streets, Main Square & the Jan Kotěra Ceremonial Hall

Framed by the Nežárka River and Vajgar Pond, Jindřichův Hradec's historic center has preserved its medieval street grid. Its winding lanes, townhouses, and open squares can serve multiple eras - from medieval castle settlements to Renaissance towns and Baroque alleyways. The Old Town Hall, originally built in the Middle Ages and rebuilt after major fires in 1607 and 1801, features an exquisite 1905 ceremonial hall designed by renowned Czech architect Jan Kotěra.

Hvězdárna Housing Estate

We rounded off our time in Jindřichův Hradec with a walkthrough of the Hvězdárna estate, built in the 1970s and 1980s. Although many buildings have been recently renovated, the neighborhood retains its distinct late-20th-century architectural layout - ideal for stories set in the recent past or modern urban drama. The area takes its name from the nearby observatory, situated directly on the 15th meridian.

Nová Bystřice Veteran Car Museum

The museum's impressive collection of vintage automobiles was a major hit with the group. Set within a former textile factory, the space currently displays 70 classic vehicles - predominantly American models - many of which are available for production hire. The industrial setting itself offers an incredible backdrop with tons of texture.

Amenity Resorts Nová Bystřice and Osika Campsite

We wrapped up day one at the Amenity Hotel & Resort Česká Kanada, where the group stayed overnight. Tucked away in the countryside, this upscale resort offers modern facilities surrounded by dense forests, lakes, cycling trails, and a golf course. The contrast between high-end amenities and raw nature provides flexible options for commercial and narrative shoots alike.

Day two began at the Osika Campsite, situated right on the water in the heart of the Czech Canada forest. With its simple timber cabins, caravan pitches, and classic lakeside facilities, it captures the timeless aesthetic of a traditional Czech holiday camp. The site is a great match for period projects set between the 1960s and 1990s, or even reality formats. A nearby narrow-gauge railway and dense woods add to its appeal. The campsite closes to the public in early September, leaving it fully open for exclusive filming throughout autumn.

Nová Bystřice Monastery & the Church of the Most Holy Trinity

A standout stop on the tour was this 16th-century former Pauline monastery, dominated by the imposing, early Baroque Church of the Most Holy Trinity. Built between 1668 and 1682, the church houses an ornate historic interior with a massive wooden altar - the second largest of its kind in Europe. Deep beneath the nave lies a vast, atmospheric underground crypt (strictly for the non-claustrophobics - only a few of our scouts ventured inside!).

Dobrohoř Château

This understated manor house was created around 1847 when an old brewery was converted into a Neoclassical residence. The enclosed courtyard consists of a main wing, outbuildings, former stables, and a coach house. After serving as administrative offices and later as part of a state farm after 1945, the estate entered private hands in 2013 and is undergoing gradual restoration. Today, it hosts exhibitions, a café, and guest rooms.

Slavonice – Town Square & Medieval Underground

Next, we briefly explored Slavonice, taking in its twin main squares lined with 16th-century Renaissance townhouses featuring preserved sgraffito façades and detailed stonework. Beneath the town lies an extensive system of medieval drainage tunnels and channels dating to the 13th and 14th centuries.

Dačice Château

At Dačice, we toured a stately home originally constructed in the 16th century and later updated with a grand Neoclassical façade during the 1830s. Its period rooms feature authentic 19th and early 20th-century furnishings, centered around a sweeping Neoclassical staircase. The property seamlessly blends architectural eras, boasting original Renaissance arcades alongside a Neo-Baroque chapel, a late Art Nouveau library, and an expansive English landscape park.

Český Rudolec Château

Nicknamed "Little Hluboká," this romantic 19th-century Neo-Gothic château was transformed from a medieval fortress. Known for its striking turreted skyline, the property presents a compelling visual contrast between its newly restored sections and crumbling, unrestored wings. Surrounded by parkland and agricultural buildings, its moody, evocative look makes it an ideal setting for period pieces, crime dramas, or mystery thrillers.

Slavonice Border Fortifications

Just a few kilometers outside Slavonice lies a remarkably preserved section of the Czechoslovak border defensive line built between 1935 and 1938. The site features roughly ten restored light pillboxes, trenches, and defensive structures. Two bunkers have been meticulously restored to reflect the 1938 mobilization period and the Cold War era, offering an authentic setting for historical films, WWII dramas, or Cold War thrillers.

U Jakuba Observation Tower

We closed out the location scouting tour with a scenic drive through Czech Canada, culminating in a climb up the U Jakuba observation tower on Havlova Mountain. Standing over 40 meters tall, this unique timber-and-steel structure offers panoramic 360-degree views across the regional countryside, neighboring villages, Dačice, Český Rudolec, Slavonice, and across the border into Austria.

Looking Ahead

The two-day location tour offered film professionals an invaluable chance to discover new film locations firsthand and connect directly with regional authorities, led by Hana Kabashi of the regional film office. Building these connections is key to bringing new feature films, series, and commercials to the region. We look forward to hosting our next tour and continuing to showcase the rich creative potential of the Czech regions.

Contact for filming in the South Bohemia Region:

South Bohemia Region Film Office
Hana Kabashi: kabashi@jccr.cz, +420 606 351 987

The mission of regional film offices is to attract audiovisual projects to their regions and to be a reliable source of information for Czech producers. 

One of the main tools to draw filmmakers’ attention to the region’s film-friendly locations is the location tour, which is organized for Czech film professionals, from producers and location managers to directors, writers, cinematographers, and film architects, by the regional film office in cooperation with the Czech Film Commission. 

A representative of the regional film office connects filmmakers with property managers and owners. A location tour is often the first step towards further inspections for a specific audiovisual work in pre-production.

A photographer specializing in architecture, landscape, and location photography is present on the location tour. The resulting photographs are then used to promote the film-friendly locations by the regional film office and the Czech Film Commission for promotional activities aimed at foreign filmmakers and are actively offered when specific requests from abroad are received.