Nové Hrady consists of eight municipal parts (in brackets population according to the 2021 census):[2] The name literally means 'new castles' in Czech.

Nové Hrady is located about 30 kilometres (19 mi) southeast of České Budějovice, on the Czech-Austrian border.

The highest point of the municipal territory overall is the border with Austria in the Gratzen Mountains with an altitude of about 825 m (2,707 ft).

It was founded as a guard point at the entrance to the Kingdom of Bohemia, later an important manor house was established here, near which a settlement with a predominance of German-speaking population raised.

In 1620, Charles Bonaventure, Count of Bucquoy acquired the castle by negotiating, and the Nové Hrady estate was donated to him by Emperor Ferdinand II for his services.

Complete demolition was considered, but only the ruins of the massive bergfried and the adjacent palace were demolished.

The rest of the castle complex was repaired and newly fortified according to the design of the Italian architect Antonio Canevallo.

The castle lost its function of the aristocratic residence in 1635 and in the following centuries it was used as a library, archive, administration and housing for officials.

It was founded as a Baroque garden, which was changed to an English landscape park in the second half of the 18th century.

[13] Next to the church is the Monastery of Divine Mercy, built for the Servite Order in the early Baroque style in 1678–1685.