The House of Bruntál

In 1593, the Helfštýn estate was bought by Hynek the Elder of Bruntál & Vrbno for 110,560 guilders. The estate included the “Helfenšteyn” castle with forefields and tavern.

After a series of negative experiences with difficult remote administration, the estate was sold to him by Peter Vok of Rosenberg. At the time, the debt rose to 80,000 guilders, with no major earnings to be expected. Vok also left military equipment to Hynek – “various munitions, bullets, powder, saltpetre, hand cannons and anything else found on Helfenštejn Castle until the cession, also grain, stock and garments.”

The castle was made ready for defence at the end of the 16th century, not only because of renewed fighting with the Turks, but also due to the social status of the new owner, the Governor of Moravia. Modifications ordered by Hynek (d. 1596) mainly concerned the palace in which he wanted to live occasionally, probably due to the relative proximity of Brno and Olomouc.

Building on the tradition of his ancestors, George of Bruntál & Vrbno, the last owner of Helfštýn from this house, continued modernisation of the Helfštýn palace. His conversion lasted for several years (1597–1605), including changes to the arrangement of the storeys and reduction in the size of the windows to facilitate heating. This redevelopment brought the final appearance of Helfštýn, but even after that it never ceased to be a fortress by nature. Only the palace building represented the sense of contemporary luxury and comfort. The sgraffito façade, Renaissance architecture, and modern interior fittings of the palace were in stark contrast with the surrounding Gothic castle stronghold.

A Protestant and committed Moravian Estates politician, George of Bruntál & Vrbno actively participated in the Bohemian Revolt starting in 1619. After the Battle of White Mountain, he had to expect harsh punishment from the winning Catholics led by the emperor. George of Bruntál & Vrbno died in 1622 while imprisoned at Špilberk Castle in Brno, and the Helfštýn estate was confiscated and obtained from Emperor Ferdinand II by Olomouc Bishop Franz von Dietrichstein.