Rájec-Jestřebí is a town in the Moravian Karst, making it a good base for exploring the local caves. There is a baroque palace with an extraordinary collection of camellias blooming in early spring.
The town was founded in 1960 from the merger of the two villages of Rájec and Jestřebí. Due to its location, close to the caves of the Moravian Karst, often visited by tourists, it has become a thriving tourist center. It has a good accommodation base and its own interesting monuments.
The most important attraction and monument of Rájac-Jestřebí is the Rajec nad Svitavou Castle. It belonged to the family of dukes of Salm and was built in a style reminiscent of French palaces from the times of Louis XVI. Currently, it is open to the public, and thanks to its well-preserved interiors, it is a picture of the life of the Czech magnates in the 18th century.
The castle has one of the largest collections of camellias in the Czech Republic. These plants bloom at the turn of winter and spring in the castle's greenhouses and palace interiors. Many tourists come to Rajca mainly to see the rooms full of flowers. In summer, walking in the park surrounding the residence is a popular pastime. In the city you can also see the 19th century chapel of St. Anna, and the originally Gothic church of All Saints, later rebuilt in the Baroque style.
