The village lies on the Jihlava river about 15 km south-east of the town Pelhřimov, 586 m a.s.l. It is an important railroad junction on the border between Bohemia and Moravia.

The fortress, founded in the 13th or in the 14th century, stood here above the pond, not far from the present square. It was rebuilt into the Renaissance chateau in 1734. Only the remains of the walls and moat from the original fort have been preserved up till now.
The originally Gothic Church of the Annunciation of the Virgin is situated in the eastern part of the square. The three-aisled basilica was reconstructed twice in the Baroque style in 1631 and in 1763.
The old Jewish cemetery from the 17th century can be found on the outskirts of the village.

The ruins of the Janštejn castle can be found about 6 km south of Horní Cerekev.