Castles
and chateaux
Land of Stories
Castles
and chateaux
the Czech Republic’s
“family silver”
The most valuable things Czechs have
inherited from their ancestors
are historical monuments. Anyone
who visits the Czech Republic
for the first time is surprised
by their abundance and their state
of preservation, how impressively they
are set in the surrounding landscape,
the splendid design of the buildings,
the variety of architectural styles,
and their excellent operation. Visitors
are charmed by the special energy they
radiate, the unique atmosphere which
greets them as they step inside.
And those who are already familiar
with this from previous visits know that
the multitude of places worth visiting,
photographing and enthusiastically
telling friends about is almost
inexhaustible – and the experience
is always powerful and wondrous…
More than a millennium of Czech history
has produced some two thousand
castles, chateaux, fortresses, and
their ruins. We invite you to come
explore their remarkable stories and
secrets.
In this book we present a selection
of the most beautiful places that are
made accessible to the public by their
current owners. Guides will be on hand
to tell you all about the fascinating fates
of individual castles and chateaux
and their inhabitants over the centuries.
Let your imagination be swept away
by these stories. You will tour sumptuous
interiors, furnished with the refined
tastes and practically unlimited financial
resources of their bygone owners.
You will see a vast variety of collections
and art works amassed with love
and pride by generations of noble
families. You will climb towers affording
outstanding views of the surrounding
countryside, lose yourself
in the mysterious labyrinths
of subterranean corridors, and inhale the
fresh scent of ancient parks and lush,
perfectly groomed historical gardens.
Czech castles and chateaux are not just
sleepy museums where time has stood
still. They also offer historical festivals
and markets, night-time tours,
costumed guides, displays of trained
birds of prey, demonstrations of ancient
crafts,
and tastings of traditional Czech
delicacies, as well as theatre and opera
performances, fencing matches, concerts,
art festivals, exhibitions and workshops
– all announced in advance on their
individual websites. And if that is not
enough, you can experience a taste
of castle life for yourself: Almost
all of these monuments rent out their
most attractive historical rooms
for special occasions such as wedding
ceremonies. So please step inside…
Contents
Bečov nad Teplou ...................................... 2
Bezděz ........................................................ 3
Bítov............................................................ 4
Blatná ......................................................... 5
Boskovice ................................................... 6
Bouzov ........................................................ 7
Buchlov....................................................... 8
Buchlovice .................................................. 9
Častolovice................................................ 10
Červená Lhota ........................................... 11
Český Krumlov ......................................... 12
Český Šternberk ....................................... 14
Cheb.......................................................... 15
Dětenice.................................................... 16
Dobříš ....................................................... 17
Duchcov.................................................... 18
Frýdlant .................................................... 19
Hluboká nad Vltavou............................... 20
Horšovský Týn ......................................... 21
Hořovice ................................................... 22
Hradec nad Moravicí ............................... 23
Hrádek u Nechanic .................................. 24
Hukvaldy .................................................. 25
Jaroměřice nad Rokytnou ....................... 26
Javorník – Jánský Vrch........................... 27
Jindřichův Hradec ................................... 28
Kačina ...................................................... 29
Kámen ...................................................... 30
Karlova Koruna........................................ 31
Karlštejn ................................................... 32
Kašperk .................................................... 33
Klášterec nad Ohří ................................... 34
Kokořín..................................................... 35
Konopiště ................................................. 36
Kost........................................................... 37
Krásný Dvůr ............................................. 38
Kratochvíle ............................................... 39
Kroměříž .................................................. 40
Křivoklát................................................... 41
Kuks.......................................................... 42
Kunětická hora......................................... 43
Kunín........................................................ 44
Kynžvart ................................................... 45
Landštejn ................................................. 46
Lednice ..................................................... 47
Lipnice nad Sázavou ................................ 50
Litomyšl.................................................... 51
Loket......................................................... 52
Manětín .................................................... 53
Mělník ...................................................... 54
Mikulov .................................................... 55
Milotice .................................................... 56
Mnichovo Hradiště .................................. 57
Náchod ..................................................... 58
Náměšť na Hané ...................................... 59
Náměšť nad Oslavou................................ 60
Nelahozeves.............................................. 61
Nové Město nad Metují ........................... 62
Olomouc ................................................... 63
Opočno ..................................................... 64
Orlík.......................................................... 65
Pernštejn .................................................. 66
Ploskovice................................................. 67
Prague – Prague Castle............................ 68
Prague – Troja Chateau........................... 70
Prague – Vyšehrad................................... 71
Rabí .......................................................... 72
Ratibořice ................................................. 73
Rožmberk ................................................. 74
Slavkov (Austerlitz).................................. 75
Sychrov ..................................................... 76
Špilberk (Brno)......................................... 77
Šternberk.................................................. 78
Švihov ....................................................... 79
Telč ........................................................... 80
Točník and Žebrák ................................... 82
Trosky....................................................... 83
Třeboň ...................................................... 84
Valtice....................................................... 85
Velhartice ................................................. 86
Velké Březno ............................................ 87
Velké Losiny ............................................ 88
Vizovice .................................................... 89
Vranov nad Dyjí ....................................... 90
Zákupy...................................................... 91
Zvíkov ....................................................... 92
Žďár nad Sázavou .................................... 93
Žleby ......................................................... 94
Hotel
Opening hours
Hire of premises for cultural
and social events
Restaurant
Special offer
Weddings
Tours
UNESCO
Suitable for children
Chateau garden
Chateau park
2 Castles and chateaux 3
Bezděz
Reason to visit
The majestic ruin of this medieval
castle is one of the dominating features
of the Czech landscape. It has been
a creative inspiration for many
artists, including the composer Bedřich
Smetana, who used motifs from the local
legend about hidden treasure in his opera
The Secret. The greatest Czech Romantic
poet, Karel Hynek Mácha, made
the castle famous in his epic poem May,
a tale of tragic love. The nearby Mácha
Lake, named for the poet, is today
a centre for water sport and recreation.
Of historical interest
Ottokar II of Bohemia (Přemysl Otakar II),
the “Iron and Golden King”, certainly
could not have known that the sentry
castle he built in the second half of
the 13th century as a residence for his
occasional stays would soon after his
Bečov
nad Teplou
Reason to visit
This chateau contains a unique
relic, which after the Crown Jewels
is the second most valuable treasure
belonging to the Czech Republic:
A splendidly decorated golden box,
commissioned in the 13th century by
the Belgian monastery of Benedictines
to hold the remains of St. John
the Baptist and St. Maurus.
It is among most beautiful examples
of the goldsmith’s art of the Middle
Ages and is the only one of its kind
in Central Europe.
Of historical interest
The last owners of the chateau,
the de Beauforts, were ordered
to leave the estate after 1945 because
of their collaboration with the Nazis
death become a prison for his 7-year-old
son Wenceslas (Václav) and his widowed
queen for many long months.
In the 17th century the castle was turned
into a fortified monastery, and after
its closure the castle deteriorated into
a picturesque ruin.
The most valuable building is
the chapeloftheRoyalPalace, a real
jewel of Gothic architecture. To admire
distant views of “Mácha’s region”
from an even greater height, climb
the massive 40-metre GreatTower,
which was the last refuge for local
inhabitants in the event of a siege
of the castle.
V–IX Tuesday–Sunday, IV and X
weekends and public holidays.
www.hrad-bezdez.eu
Státní hrad Bezděz
472 01 Doksy
in occupied Czechoslovakia. They buried
the Reliquary of St. Maurus under
the floor of the chapel in the hope that
they would one day return for it.
If a foreign merchant had not appeared
some years later and started to
negotiate with the Czechoslovak state
over the purchase of an unspecified
valuable object, probably no one would
have learned of its existence. This
tangled case, which top Czechoslovak
criminologists worked to unravel,
was solved in 1985 and became the
inspiration for a detective novel.
V–IX Tuesday–Sunday,
IV and X weekends and public holidays.
www.zamek-becov.cz
Náměstí 5. května 13
364 64 Bečov nad Teplou
4 Castles and chateaux 5
Blatná
Reason to visit
The characteristic white-and-red tower at
the entrance to the stone water castle was
built in the Late Middle Ages, during the
reign of the Lords of Rožmitál. They held
high state offices, they loved a luxurious
lifestyle, and they were inspired by the
sophisticated culture of the nobility
in western Europe. Reconstruction of
the old palace into a magnificent threestorey
Gothic-Renaissance chateau
was commissioned from the famous
architect Benedikt Rejt, who worked in
the service of the Crown.
Of historical interest
This representational residence in Blatná
was often at the centre of political events
in the Bohemian Kingdom.
Jaroslav Lev of Rožmitál’s sister Johana
married King George of Poděbrady
and became the queen of Bohemia.
Bítov
Reason to visit
In the previous century, the castle served
as the family residence of its last owner,
the somewhat eccentric Baron Haas,
who built here what was at that time one
of the largest private zoos in Europe.
In addition to live animals, he also
loved his collections of taxidermied
domestic and exotic animals,
especially his collection of dogs of
51 different breeds, including the extinct
Stable Pinscher. Today the collection is
listed in Guinness World Records as
the largest of its kind in the world.
Of historical interest
The fortified castle on a headland near
the confluence of the Želetavka and
Dyje rivers in South Moravia guarded
the frontier of the Bohemian Kingdom
as early as the Middle Ages. Its current
appearance is the result of RomanticJaroslav,
a highly educated and skilled
diplomat, was an envoy for his brotherin-law,
carrying the famous Treaty
of the Establishment of Peace
Throughout Christendom to the royal
courts of Europe.
The objects in the palace’s
interiors are predominantly from
the family collections of the current
owners, the Hildprandts, who have
possessed the chateau since
the 18th century. Of special interest
is an exposition on the outstanding
19th-century Czech physician
and naturalist Jan Evangelista
Purkyně, who as a young man worked
in Blatná as an educator.
VI–IX Tuesday–Sunday,
IV, V and X weekends.
www.zamek-blatna.cz
Na Příkopech 320
388 01 Blatná
style modifications in the 19th century,
and it picturesquely complements the
local landscape of forests, rivers and
hillsides, where sunshine and the crisp
Moravian wine reign supreme.
The complicated story of one
of the oldest royal castles and the
lives of its inhabitants is told on four
different tour circuits. In addition
to the palace and the armoury with
its singular exhibits, highlights
include the castle prison, dungeon
and torture chamber, equipped with
replicas of torture devices which
visitors can try out for themselves.
V–IX Tuesday - Sunday, IV and X
weekends and public holidays.
www.hradbitov.cz
Státní hrad Bítov
671 07 pošta Uherčice
6 Castles and chateaux 7
Bouzov
Reason to visit
If filmmakers are looking for the ideal
location for a fairy tale or a historical
story, Bouzov – with its battlements,
bay windows, loopholes, gargoyles,
drawbridges and trellises – is usually
at the top of the list. Its romantic
medieval atmosphere came about
during a reconstruction of the castle at
the turn of the 20th century on the orders
of the chateau’s owners at that time, the
Teutonic Knights, who did not hesitate
to pay more than 20 million guldens for
the work.
Of historical interest
The castle, founded in the 14th century,
is the likely birthplace of George
of Poděbrady, who would grow
up to become king of Bohemia.
Boskovice
Reason to visit
In this charming chateau, which
is one of the purest examples of Empire
architecture in Moravia, you will find
exceptional curiosities. For example,
you will see one of the three copper
globes in the world, on which the
starry sky is depicted with heraldic
emblems, or a noteworthy Rococo
children’s theatre, which was
presented to the owners of the chateau
by the British Queen Victoria.
Of historical interest
On the site of this grand aristocratic
residence there originally stood
a Dominican monastery, which after
its closure served briefly for the
manufacture of dyes. It was rebuilt
into its current form in the early
19th century.
The furnishings in the chambers
of the Grandmaster of the Teutonic
Knights, the secret passageways,
and also a large stove and grill in
the castle kitchen suggest that
the virtuous knights did not deny
themselves the creature comforts
of the time. From the walkway
of a 64-metre observation tower,
the whole castle area and the
beautiful forests of the Drahanské
Highlands open up before your eyes.
V–IX daily, IV and X weekends.
www.hrad-bouzov.cz
Státní hrad Bouzov
783 25 Bouzov 8
Tip: The chateau’s history is connected
with the nearby romantic ruin
of the Boskovice Castle (above)
with its 26-metre well driven by
a wooden treadle wheel.
The chateau’s sumptuous
ballroom was the setting for many
balls and festivities, which were
attended by the cream of society.
In the Hall of Battles you will see
paintings on buffalo hide with scenes
from the Austro- and Russo-Turkish
wars.
V–IX Tuesday–Sunday.
Children will enjoy the set
of miniature furniture and the Rococo
children’s theatre.
www.zamekboskovice.cz
Hradní 6
680 01 Boskovice
8 Castles and chateaux 9
Buchlovice
Reason to visit
This chateau nestled in a Baroque
garden was a gift from the Earl Dětřich
of Petřvald to his noble-born Italian wife.
So that she would feel comfortable
in her new home in Moravia,
he had plans drawn up in the style
of the so-called villa rustica, in which
the building is set in the open rural
landscape. The purest example
of an Italian Baroque villa in Central
Europe, it amazed contemporaries
– and continues to do so today.
Of historical interest
The chateau gained international fame
at the beginning of the 20th century,
when its owner was Leopold Berchtold,
who in 1912 became the foreign minister
of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy.
In this grand manor, leading politicians
of the time made decisions about
Buchlov
Reason to visit
Lovers of the mysterious will like
the local legend about the Lady in
Black, Catherine, who, it is said, had her
husband, the lord of the castle, murdered
in 1582. At night, her ghost sets off from
the gloomy chamber called the “Room
of the Dead” to roam the castle.
The truth, however, is that the impatient
nobleman died in battle. And the room,
where accused poachers once were
judged, now displays the castle’s most
valuable exhibit, an Egyptian mummy
in a cedar coffin from the 3rd century BC.
Of historical interest
Construction of the royal fortress castle,
which the sovereign endowed with
the power of jurisdiction and so-called
hunting rights, began in the 13th century.
Almost all of the owners had extensive
construction work done, therefore today
the fate of Europe. Meetings were held
here about the annexation of Bosnia
and Herzegovina to the Austrian
monarchy, which was the main reason
for the outbreak of the First World
War. Count Leopold was a great
philanthropist: He built a modern public
hospital at the chateau.
The luxurious rooms of a residence
surrounded by greenery reflect
the elegant lifestyle of the aristocracy
at the turn of the 20th century. Here
you will discover the collecting tastes
and family history of the owners.
V–IX Tuesday–Sunday,
IV and X weekends and public
holidays.
www.zamek-buchlovice.cz
Státní zámek Buchlovice
687 08 Buchlovice
the castle is a textbook of architectural
styles from the Early Middle Ages
to the 19th century.
In addition to the rare Egyptology
collections, don’t overlook the rich
natural-history collections with
a number of curiosities. There is also
an extensive library founded in the
late 16th century which contains more
than 10,000 volumes. The castle
tower, at an altitude of 545 metres
above sea level, provides an excellent
view of the gently undulating and
welcoming Slovácko (Moravian
Slovakia) region.
IV, X weekends and public holidays
V, VI and IX Tuesday-Sunday,
VII, VIII daily.
www.hrad-buchlov.cz
Polesí 418
687 68 Buchlovice
10 Castles and chateaux 11
Červená Lhota
Reason to visit
The unusual red colour distinguishes
this picturesque aristocratic weekend
retreat from similar Renaissance
chateaux in the Czech Republic.
The graceful silhouette of the chateau
mirrored on the surface of the
surrounding water is most impressive
from a boat ride around the chateau
pond. The fairy tale atmosphere of this
place is often captured by film crews.
Of historical interest
The summer palace, rebuilt in the
16th century from a Gothic fortress,
was a place for entertainment,
celebration and relaxation.
At the beginning of the 17th century
it got a new red brick roof,
and its original name of “New” Lhota
was changed to “Red”; the same colour
was later added to the façade.
Častolovice
Reason to visit
The original chateau, set in the foothills
of the Orlické Mountains, was rebuilt several
times by the Šternberks (Sternbergs),
who have owned it since the late 17th
century until the present, with the exception
of during the Nazi occupation and under
the communist regime. They assembled
an extraordinary art collection at the
chateau, including original works by such
important European painters as Karel
Škréta, Lucas van Valckenborg and Johann
Heinrich Schönfeld, and a series of portraits
of Czech kings. The rarest paintings adorn
the Wallpaper Room and the Smoking
Salon.
Of historical interest
The Šternberks were lovers and patrons
of the arts and sciences. They built up the
Castle Gallery collection over 300 years.
The leading figure of the family supported
Tip: There is a boat rental in operation
whenever the castle is open.
The reception, private and guest
rooms, modified in the early
20th century, are equipped with
authentic furniture and valuable
works of art.
V–IX Tuesday–Sunday,
IV and X weekends.
www.zamek-cervenalhota.eu
Červená Lhota 1
378 21 Kardašova Řečice
the Czech National Revival movement
in the 19th century and, among other
things, significantly contributed to the
establishment of the National Museum
in Prague in 1818.
Twenty rooms furnished
in different historical styles illustrate
the changes in lifestyle over
the centuries. If you look up at the
original Renaissance coffered ceiling
in the Knight’sHall, an array of brightly
coloured Old Testament scenes
unfolds before your eyes.
IV–IX Tuesday–Sunday.
The tour includes a children’s room
with an exhibition of toys from the 19th
century. In the chateau park, children
can let off steam at the playground
or visit the small menagerie.
www.zamek-castolovice.cz
Masarykova 1, 517 50 Častolovice
12 Castles and chateaux 13
Two tour circuits offer highlights
of the richly decorated interiors
of the vast and labyrinthine complex.
The apex of the tour is the famous
Masquerade Hall, on whose walls
you’ll see, through paintings, mirrors
and optical illusions, a high-spirited
carnival ball with Rococo ladies,
their gallant gentlemen and their
servants. An extraordinary monument
of world importance is the Baroque
castle theatre, complete with its
historical equipment, and a beautifully
decorated six-storey Renaissance
tower offering an unrepeatable view
of one of Europe’s most beautiful
historical towns (a UNESCO World
Heritage Site).
Český Krumlov
Reason to visit
This extensive and artistically extremely
valuable palace complex is the second
largest in the Czech Republic after
Prague Castle. Its greatest heyday
was in the 16th century under
Vilém of Rožmberk (Rosenberg),
a humanist, scholar and influential
politician in the court of Emperor
Rudolf II, and even a candidate
for the Polish throne. His vast estate
was transformed into a thriving business,
and, enchanted by the spirit
of Renaissance Italy, he rebuilt
the ancestral castle into a beautiful
residential chateau. At his court, not
only artists thrived but also swindlers
and charlatans.
IV–X Tuesday-Sunday
(castle museum
I–III and XI–XII Tuesday-Sunday,
IV–X daily).
Five-Petalled Rose Celebrations
(VI) – for three days the town returns
to the time of Renaissance knights,
noble ladies, magicians and beggars.
Chamber Music Festival (VI–VII),
Festival of Early Music (VII),
Český Krumlov International Music
Festival (VII-VIII), Festival of Baroque
Art (IX–X). Theatrical performances
on a revolving stage in the chateau
park (VI–IX).
www.zamek-ceskykrumlov.eu
Zámek 59
381 01 Český Krumlov
Of historical interest
Over three centuries, the powerful
Rožmberk family influenced the fate
and the architecture not just of its
residence but also of the town below the
castle and almost all of South Bohemia,
where they were the almost unchallenged
rulers. While their wealth was enormous,
it was not enough for both the costly
Renaissance reconstruction and their
luxurious lifestyle, resulting in debts and
stagnation at the chateau, which then
changed hands several times.
Only in the 18th century did it see a new
flowering and revival of a rich social life
under the creative Prince Josef Adam
of Schwarzenberg. He undertook another
wide-ranging reconstruction
of the complex, which at that time could
compete with the pomp of the emperor’s
residence in Vienna.
14 Castles and chateaux 15
Český Šternberk
Reason to visit
This massive Gothic castle on a steep
rock above a bend in the Sázava River
is one of the best-preserved fortified
settlements in Bohemia. The builders
of its original defence system
in the 14th century did not imagine
the invention of firearms, and its
defences completely failed in 1467 when
the castle was attacked by the artillery
troops of King George of Poděbrady.
The painful experience led to
a restoration of the castle and a sophisticated
new defence strategy.
The built-up fortifications with steep
walls and a protruding bastion are
a highlight of the medieval art
of fortification.
Of historical interest
For eight centuries, and almost
continuously since its establishment
around 1241, the castle has belonged
to the old aristocratic Šternberk
(Sternberg) family, the lords with
an eight-pointed golden star on their
coat of arms. With a little luck, you may
meet the current owner, who during the
communist regime worked as a miner
and a theatre stagehand.
Collecting has always been
one of the family’s interests.
This is exemplified not only
by the castle’s extensive displays,
a highlight of which is a unique
collection of 545 prints on the history
of the Thirty Years’ War, but also
by a monument to Kašpar Šternberk,
a co-founder of the National Museum
in Prague.
V–IX Tuesday–Sunday,
IV, X weekends and public holidays.
www.hradceskysternberk.cz
257 27 Český Šternberk
Cheb
Reason to visit
J. W. Goethe, who liked to stay in Cheb
and also in neighbouring Mariánské
Lázně, judged the wondrous castle
tower of black volcanic rock to be the
work of the ancient Romans. Although
he was wrong, the tower is the oldest
structure in the historical town.
A Romanesque castle of the
Palatinate type was built by Emperor
Frederick I Barbarossa in the 12th
century.
Of historical interest
This occasional seat of sovereigns
was the site of important diplomatic
negotiations and political events of
European significance. The last of them
was a conspiracy and guileful murder in
1634 of generals loyal to the Supreme
Commander of the Austrian Imperial
troops Albrecht von Wallenstein.
After that time, the castle fell into
decline, as no one wanted to live in the
place where such a brutal act took place.
Tip: A municipalmuseum was
established in the medieval house
on Cheb’s main square where Albrecht
von Wallenstein was murdered. It has
an extensive exposition dedicated
to the famous general.
Today, only the old walls remind
us of the opulent palace intended
for festive occasions in the presence
of the sovereign. Uniquely preserved,
however, is a two-storeycastlechapel,
which is one of the most important
Romanesque monuments in the Czech
Republic.
I–III and XI, XII weekends,
IV–VI and IX, X Tuesday–Sunday,
VII and VIII daily.
www.hrad-cheb.cz
Trčky z Lípy 1
350 02 Cheb
16 Castles and chateaux 17
Dětenice
Reason to visit
This chateau in a romantic landscape
at the edge of Bohemian Paradise
so captured the heart of the Spanish
Queen Maria Christina on her visits
here in the 19th century that she wanted
to buy it. She was dissuaded only because
of the inflexibility of the Viennese court
in the strained relations between
the Austrian and Spanish branches
of the Habsburgs. At least the Spanish
court received some of the renowned
beer from the chateau brewery.
Of historical interest
The turbulent fate of the nobility
in the Czech lands is reflected
in the history of the chateau, which was
forcibly seized several times, sold often,
but also lost on the stock market.
A distinct imprint on the building
was left by the Knights of Malta,
to whom it was bequeathed by the
prominent Austrian politician Baron
Wessenberk, who in 1873 shot himself
because he had been accused of treason.
In the period of communist rule,
the chateau served as a juvenile
detention centre.
Classic, fairy tale, and ghost
tour circuits lead through the Baroque
interiors with period furnishings
and decorations. The Order
of the Knights of Malta left behind
its exceptional collection of weapons
originating from the Thirty Years’ War,
including unique ship canons
from the battle for Rhodes
in the 16th century.
VII–VIII daily,
V–VI and IX Tuesday–Sunday,
I–IV and X–XII weekends.
Every Saturday throughout
the year ghost tours are held,
during which devils, vampires,
witches, ghosts and other creatures
rollick in the chateau rooms.
Tours of the chateau, enlivened
by fairy tales with songs and live
music, are held every Sunday
from June to September.
www.zamekdetenice.cz
507 24 Dětenice
Dobříš
Reason to visit
The attractive and ornate environment
of this Rococo chateau, surrounded
by a valuable garden with floral
ornamentation, sculpted hedges
and statues, evokes the atmosphere
of Vienna’s Schönbrunn Palace.
Perhaps that is why it is so sought
after by filmmakers of fairy tales,
by concert organizers and for weddings
and private parties.
Of historical interest
The splendid Rococo residence from
the 18th century, thoroughly reminiscent
of the times, tastes and style of the
French King Louis XVI, was during
the Second World War a favourite
of the Nazis, who expropriated it from
its aristocratic owners. For 50 years
it then served as the “Home for Writers”,
offering residencies and recreation
for pro-regime authors and other
prominent people.
Part of the chateau houses
the exhibition of the town museum.
In addition to the history and examples
of traditional localglove-making,
another attraction is a large collection
of historicalmotorcycles made
in Czechoslovakia.
The so-called Writers’Room
recalls the times during the communist
era when the family collections
of the old-new owners, the ColloredoMansfeld
family, were inaccessible
to “mere mortals”. Today they
are accessible and much admired
by the public.
VII–VIII daily, IX–VI Tuesday–
Sunday.
www.zamekdobris.cz
263 01 Dobříš
18 Castles and chateaux 19
Duchcov
Reason to visit
If the ageing Giacomo Casanova had
not settled here to manage the extensive
Duchcov Chateau library at the end of
his tumultuous life, who knows whether
he would have written his famous
autobiography, which revealed his
scandalous adventures in the royal courts
and in the bedroom. The hot-headed
Italian spent 13 years in cold Bohemia
and was not too fond of the country, even
though he had his last love adventure
here. He died in Duchcov and is buried
here.
Of historical interest
The palatial seat of the powerful
Wallenstein family was built by architects
of great renown. Its prestige
as a cultural centre in North Bohemia
grew with stays here by famous
musicians and writers, including
Bach, Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven,
Chopin, Schiller and Goethe. A social
lustre was added by visits of the Prussian
and Austrian emperors and the Russian
czar. The 20th century brought a tragic
fate for the chateau: Part of it fell victim
to coal mining, and the magnificent
Baroque dome fresco of the hospital had
to be transferred to a newly built pavilion
in the chateau park.
In addition to the reception rooms
and the Wallenstein family gallery,
you can also visit the servants’ quarters
and, of course, there is a museum
dedicated to Giacomo Casanova.
V–IX Tuesday–Sunday,
IV and X weekends and public
holidays.
www.zamek-duchcov.cz
Náměstí Republiky 9
419 01 Duchcov
Frýdlant
Reason to visit
The original castle, expanded in the
16th century with a Renaissance chateau,
has been open to the public since 1801
and is the oldest castle museum
in Central Europe. Architecturally,
the chateau is a living textbook of artistic
styles.
Of historical interest
The ambitious European politician
and military general Albrecht von
Wallenstein won his fabulous wealth
in the Thirty Years’ War, and his base
was the prosperous Frýdlant estate,
called Terra felix – a Latin expression
meaning Happy Land. Nonetheless,
the chateau and its surroundings were
not spared the hardships of protracted
war. After Wallenstein was assassinated,
Swedish troops settled here.
In new armoury you will find
a thousand weapons, the oldest
of which are from the 12th century
and the newest ones dating from
the First World War.
IV–X Tuesday–Sunday.
www.zamek-frydlant.cz
Zámecká 4001
464 01 Frýdlant v Čechách
20 Castles and chateaux 21
Hluboká
nad Vltavou
Reason to visit
White brickwork, battlements, loopholes,
towers and turrets, oriel and pointedarch
windows, a mazelike floor plan
– all of this brings to mind the romantic
rural atmosphere of the English kings
of Windsor. It was precisely on this
model that the entire Hluboká complex
and the surrounding land was rebuilt.
Of historical interest
Originally a royal sentry castle, it had
a succession of important owners.
The Schwarzenberg family lived here
for a full three hundred years before
the Second World War, when the castle
was occupied by the Gestapo and the
family emigrated overseas. The princely
residence came alive mainly during
autumn hunting season, when it was
visited by the cream of the European
aristocracy.
Tip: The Neo-Gothic former riding
schoolnext to the castle contains
an important artmuseum, which
is named after the painter Mikoláš Aleš,
a native of South Bohemia. A gem
of the museum’s high-quality holdings
is a renowned collection of Gothic art
from South Bohemia and the Šumava
region. The Hluboká Musical Summer,
a chamber music festival with
a long tradition, is held directly
in the exhibition space (VI–VIII).
In terms of elegance and comfort,
the interiors did not take a back seat
to English and Scottish manors
of the 19th century. Among the
requisite amenities were a private
chapel, its own theatre, and a library
with about 12,000 volumes.
The castle has some 140 suites, many
of which are richly furnished with
the Schwarzenberg family collections
and are accessible to the public.
VII–VIII daily,
I–VI and IX–XII Tuesday–Sunday.
www.zamek-hluboka.eu
Bezručova 142
373 41 Hluboká nad Vltavou
Horšovský Týn
Reason to visit
This typical Renaissance chateau
from the 16th century, which
has remained almost unmodified,
is one of the most accessible monuments
in the Czech Republic: In high season
it offers visitors five different tour circuits
with a total time of over five hours!
Of historical interest
After a terrible fire in the medieval
castle in the middle of the 16th century,
a comfortable chateau was built from
the ruins. The estate was confiscated from
its owners, the famous Czech Lobkowicz
family, because of their participation
in an uprising against the Habsburgs.
It was sold for a negligible sum
to a member of the Styrian noble family
of Trauttmansdorff, who held
it for 300 years.
The imperial diplomat Count
Maximilian Trauttmansdorff
was the main organizer of the peace
negotiations that led to the end
of the Thirty Years’ War. In the castle
library are rare documents relating
to it and also a richly decorated goose
quill with which he personally signed
the Peace of Westphalia in 1648
on behalf of the Habsburg monarchy.
V–IX Tuesday–Sunday,
IV, X weekends and public holidays.
www.horsovsky-tyn.cz
Náměstí Republiky 1
346 01 Horšovský Týn
22 Castles and chateaux 23
Hořovice
Reason to visit
Shortly after the end of the Second
World War, the nationalized chateau
was plundered by the Red Army, which
temporarily quartered here. After that,
the dilapidated building was used
by all sorts of people until it had
to be closed due to its precarious
condition. For the past 25 years,
it has been undergoing an incredible
transformation back to its former glory.
The once again beautifully furnished
chambers are a testament to the history
of the chateau. On the ground floor
is a unique exhibition of historic
musical machines and jukeboxes.
Of historical interest
In the distant past, the Czechs had an
original method of solving political
disputes: unpopular officials were simply
thrown out the window. The cruel royal
governor Jaroslav Bořita of Martinic
miraculously survived the defenestration
at Prague Castle, however the owner of the
Hořovice chateau, Jan Litvín of Říčany,
who personally threw Bořita, did not fare
so well. He not only lost Hořovice, which
was confiscated and then acquired by none
other than the Martinic family, but he also
lost all of his other property. The event
ushered in the Thirty Years’ War.
With what kind of toysandgames
did young aristocrats play? The answer
is to be found in an extensive display in
the chateau’s salons. Exhibits include
old theatrical puppets and a panoramic
theatre set piece.
V–IX Tuesday–Sunday,
IV, X weekends.
www.zamek-horovice.cz
Vrbnovská 22
268 01 Hořovice
Hradec
nad Moravicí
Reason to visit
The White Chateau has a tumultuous
history as a strategic point in North
Moravia near the frontier.
Many times it found itself at the centre
of wartime, diplomatic and cultural
events that were fateful not only for
the Czech lands but also for Poland,
Hungary and Prussia.
It acquired its current form as an elegant
Classicist chateau in the 19th century.
The Red Chateau was built in the style
of an Old German medieval castle
as an annex to house facilities
for the operation of the household.
Of historical interest
In addition to rulers, dignitaries
of European courts, and political
and social figures, the castle also
hosted many musical greats,
such as Beethoven, Paganini and
Liszt.
Inside the comfortably furnished
residence you will find an exhibition
of historical carriages and hunting
weapons. There is also an English
park merging smoothly into the
open countryside with a view of the
Jeseníky Mountains.
V–IX Tuesday–Sunday,
IV, X, XII weekends.
The prestigious music festival
and international performance
competition Beethoven’s Hradec
is held in the Great Hall of the Red
Chateau (VI).
www.zamek-hradec.cz
Městečko 2
747 41 Hradec nad Moravicí
24 Castles and chateaux 25
Hrádek
u Nechanic
Reason to visit
Although this chateau tucked away
in a forest park looks like an ancient
English residence, it was built in the
mid-19th century and is one of the
youngest chateaux in the Czech
Republic. Count František Arnošt
of Harrach built it to fulfil a romantic
dream to revive his noble family’s
ancient glory and to recall its knightly
past. He drew his inspiration on his trips
throughout England.
Of historical interest
Even the furnishings of the chateau
are meant to evoke chivalric deeds.
Count Harrach imported antiques
from abroad, especially from Austria
and Italy, and he even bought entire
portals, ceilings and complete room
furnishings. His fairy tale dream soon
evaporated: During the Austro-Prussian
War of 1866 the chateau became
a military hospital, and after the Second
World War it was confiscated
from the Harrachs.
Knightlyarmour in the entrance
hall, antique furniture, rare paintings
and gilded wallpaper from calf leather
on the walls of the GoldenHall,
the largest and most beautiful room
in the chateau – all of this was skilfully
used by the Viennese architect
Karl Fischer to create the impression
of a medieval residence.
IV and X weekends V–IX Tuesday–
Sunday.
www.hradekunechanic.cz
Státní zámek Hrádek u Nechanic
503 15 Nechanice
Hukvaldy
Reason to visit
In Hukvaldy you will encounter
traces of the famous native son,
the composer Leoš Janáček, at every
step. His musical legacy is also connected
with the monumental castle ruin
on a steep hill in a beautiful old game
park with deer and mouflons.
It is said that he liked to sit at
a lookout point along the castle’s
former fortifications, where he drew
inspiration for many of his works.
In the forest below the castle there
is even a statue recalling his most
famous opera, The Cunning Little Vixen.
Of historical interest
One of the largest castles in the
Czech Republic, it was founded
in the 13th century. It was never
conquered, but 500 years later
it was completely destroyed by a major
fire. The romantic ruins have been
a popular place for outings since
the 19th century.
From the courtyard at the core
of the castle you can access
the partially roofed palace, cellars,
dungeon, and former prison.
The biggest problem for the castle
was always a shortage of water.
A well dug in the 16th century
to a depth of 150 metres reportedly
cost more than the construction
of the castle itself.
IV–X Tuesday–Sunday.
www.janackovy-hukvaldy.cz
739 46 Hukvaldy
26 Castles and chateaux 27
Jaroměřice
nad Rokytnou
Reason to visit
The well-travelled and educated
art patron Jan Adam of Questenberk
decided in the late 17th century
to create a “small Versailles”
out of an inherited residence.
Then he filled every corner of this
monumental Baroque chateau
surrounded by a French garden
with music, which he also actively
performed. He accepted into service
only those who could play a musical
instrument or sing.
Of historical interest
The first Czech opera, The Foundation
of the City of Jaroměřice, was created
at the chateau and had its debut here
in 1730. It was written by the famous
Baroque composer and court band
master Antonín Míča, who organized a
wealth of musical and theatrical events
at the chateau.
Tip: You can taste quality
Moravian wines from the local
wine shop in the romantic garden
or beneath the historical vaulting
of the chateau cellar.
The chateau’s interiors reflect
the artistic orientation of its owner.
An integral part of the representative
area of the chateau are a theatre,
a music and dance hall, a library
and a gallery.
V–IX Tuesday–Sunday,
IV and X weekends and public
holidays.
www.zamek-jaromerice.cz
Náměstí Míru 1
675 51 Jaroměřice nad Rokytnou
Javorník –
Janský Vrch
Reason to visit
This chateau on a rocky hill above
the town was for many years
the centre of education and culture
for the northernmost tip of Moravia near
the Polish border. It also is noteworthy
for its advanced technical appointments:
already at the turn of the 19th century
it had running water, and in the years
1906–1932 the interiors and the main
courtyard shone with gas chandeliers
and lamps.
Of historical interest
For 600 years the chateau
and its extensive grounds belonged
to the bishopric of what is today
Wrocław, Poland (formerly Breslau).
The bishops and archbishops gradually
created from the medieval castle
a monumental Baroque chateau,
which they used as a summer residence.
In honour of their patron saint,
John the Baptist, they renamed
it Janský Vrch (John’s Hill).
An interesting highlight
of the tour through the rich interiors
is thelargestcollectionofpipes
and smoking accessories on display
in the Czech Republic. A separate tour
leads through the parts of the chateau
dedicated to the household’s day-today
operation.
V–IX Tuesday–Sunday.
www.janskyvrch.cz
Státní zámek
790 70 Javorník
28 Castles and chateaux 29
Jindřichův
Hradec
Reason to visit
Italian masters brought Mediterranean
lightness and grace from the cradle
of the Renaissance to the picturesque
rolling countryside of South Bohemia,
a landscape of quiet forests and ponds.
The old castle fortress was turned into
a magnificent chateau, with shaded
arcades connecting it to the palace.
An extensive complex of buildings,
courtyards and green spaces creates
a harmonious whole with
the adjacent town, which is an
urban conservation area.
Of historical interest
A catastrophic fire in 1773 destroyed
the city and a substantial part of the
Renaissance interiors along with their art
collections. Given a temporary roof and
abandoned by its owners, the complex
then fell into disrepair. The splendid
garden music pavilion with brilliant
acoustics, a pearl of Renaissance
architecture, served as storage
for timber, for hunted animals,
and even as a cowshed. Only in the
20th century was the importance
of the chateau fully appreciated,
and a nearly 20-year reconstruction
returned it to its former beauty.
Radical reconstruction based
on Italian models was carried out
under Adam II of Hradec. His name
is carried by the most beautiful palace,
which has exemplary Renaissance
interiors. Legend has it that in the black
kitchen of the original medieval castle
the spectral WhiteLady used
to cook sweet porridge for her
subjects. According to a popular story,
her ghost appears in all the dominions
of her ancestors.
IV–X Tuesday–Sunday.
The popular Folk Rose summer
festival is held in the chateau complex
and in the town (VII).
www.zamek-jindrichuvhradec.eu
Dobrovského 1/I
377 01 Jindřichův Hradec
Kačina
Reason to visit
The pure white beauty of this Empirestyle
castle, built in the 19th century
on an unusual floor plan in the shape
of an archer’s bow, rises up against
the backdrop of another work of art –
a naturally landscaped park.
Of historical interest
The chateau of the noble Chotek family
was, in its time, the paragon of a newstyle
aristocratic residence. It perfectly
represented the wealthy and politically
influential family and showcased the
good taste of its owners, whose passions
were culture, art and nature. The most
beautiful parts of the chateau are the
theatre and the library with a dome like
that of the Roman Pantheon.
Tip: Romantics at heart will enjoy
the picnicbaskets prepared
by the chateau’s café. A blanket
can be spread anywhere in the park,
where you can spend undisturbed time
relaxing with good food and drink.
In addition to the chateau’s
expositions, you will see exhibits
from the MuseumoftheCzech
Countryside, such as 400 historical
ploughs and 140 historical tractors,
in parts of the interior and also outside.
IV and X weekends and public
holiday, V–IX Tuesday–Sunday and
public holidays.
www.kacina.cz
Svatý Mikuláš, 284 01 Kutná Hora
30 Castles and chateaux 31
Kámen
Reason to visit
Can one live in a tower, as in a fairy tale?
At Kámen Castle, inhabitants had
all the amenities: On the ground floor
was a pantry and armoury, on the first
floor were residential and reception
rooms. The stone walls were insulated
with wood panelling, the rooms were
heated by tiled stoves, and small arched
windows offered stunning views
of the countryside. Of course there
was also a privy – a medieval toilet.
Of historical interest
The castle, solid as the rock
on which it was built in the Middle
Ages (kámen means “stone”),
was an important strategic point
for Hussite troops during the religious
wars of the 15th century. Later,
peace talks between the opposing
sides were held here under
the direction of the non-Catholic
Bohemian King George of Poděbrady.
An exposition on life at a noble
residence at the turn of the
20th century blends very well
with a collectionof46motorcycles
andbicycles produced in the Czech
lands around the same time.
V–IX Tuesday–Sunday,
IV, X weekends and public holidays.
www.hradkamen.cz
Muzeum Vysočiny
394 13 Kámen 1
Karlova Koruna
Reason to visit
The originality and genius of the Czech
Baroque architect of Italian origin
Jan Santini-Aichel, who designed
the plans for the castle, fortuitously
met with the outstanding talent
of another prominent architect,
František Maximilián Kaňka,
who oversaw the construction work.
The chateau, with an unusual floor plan
recalling a royal crown, was named
Karlova Koruna (meaning “Charles’
Crown”) by its owner, Count Kinský,
in honour of a visit by the Emperor
Charles VI soon after his coronation
as king of Bohemia.
Of historical interest
The Kinskýs were great connoisseurs
of horses, and at the end of the
18th century they established
an excellent stable for their own breed.
The founder of the Octavian Kinský
breed was also a founder of the Great
Pardubice cross-country steeplechase,
still the most difficult and most
prestigious horse race in continental
Europe. It is said that he loved his horses
so much that he even had his favourite
ones brought to his deathbed.
On a tour of the chateau,
you will learn about the turbulent
history of the Kinský family
in connection with the history
of their horse-breeding activities.
VII,VIII Tuesday–Sunday,
IV–VI and IX,X weekends and public
holidays.
www.kinskycastles.com
Pražská 1/IV
503 51 Chlumec nad Cidlinou
32 Castles and chateaux 33
Karlštejn
Reason to visit
The Bohemian King and Holy Roman
Emperor Charles IV could not have
chosen a better place to keep holy relics
and the Imperial Crown Jewels.
He gave the royal treasures a resting
place under the gilded dome
of the Chapel of the Holy Cross,
which is covered in glass disks to create
the illusion of a starry sky. Like silent
witnesses, they watch over the panel
paintings of dozens of saints by Master
Theodoric, a leading representative
of medieval European painting.
Of historical interest
Charles IV personally supervised
the completion of the imperial residence
and the decoration of the interior, even
conferring with his stargazers.
The castle’s appearance today, after
a thorough reconstruction at the turn
of the 20th century, is quite different
from that of the original Gothic structure,
and the architect Josef Mocker faulted
the repairs for making the castle too
beautiful and perfect. The most
significant Bohemian royal castle,
surrounded on three sides by high
forested slopes, still retains its special
magic today.
Tip: If you do not wish to climb the
steep hill to the most-visited Czech
monument, you can be taken by horsedrawn
carriage from the village below
the castle.
TheImperialPalace and the
MarianTower will leave you with no
doubt that you are in the residence of
the greatest Czech sovereign. Some
places, such as his bedroom and study
or his private chapel, evoke the strange
feeling that Charles IV has remained
personally present.
II and XI, XII weekends, III–XI
Tuesday–Sunday and VII–VIII daily.
Every year the costumedRoyal
Procession sets off with the coronation
jewels from Prague to Karlštejn Castle.
The historical celebration concludes
with a tournament for the title
of Bohemian Knight (VI).
www.hradkarlstejn.cz
267 18 Karlštejn 172
Kašperk
Reason to visit
To protect the gold-bearing Kašperské
Mountains and the newly built trade
routes linking the Czech Kingdom with
Bavaria, the Czech King and Holy Roman
Emperor Charles IV had a sentry castle
built close to the border. As a gesture
of friendship, he plighted it to his loyal
and wise adviser Jan Očko of Vlašim, the
second archbishop of Prague and the first
Bohemian cardinal. He even entrusted
him with the education of his young son,
the future sovereign Wenceslas
(Václav) IV.
Of historical interest
The fact that the sovereign took
the protection of the region
and the Golden Trail trade route
seriously is evidenced by the massive
fortifications of the castle. With
the exception of oriels, the side towers
were built without openings – in case
the castle should be bombarded with
dangerous projectiles and hurled
weapons.
The massive castle towers offer
vistas of the mysterious Šumava
forests.
IV weekends, V–VI and IX, X
Tuesday–Sunday, VII and VIII daily,
28 XII–1 I daily.
www.kasperk.cz
Žlíbek 55, 341 92 Kašperské Hory
34 Castles and chateaux 35
Klášterec
nad Ohří
Reason to visit
When at the end of the 18th century
the castle administrator J. N. Weber
experimented with the kaolin that had
just been discovered in the area,
he could not have known that porcelain
from Klášterec would become famous
throughout the world. His first primitive
creations were a far cry from the snowwhite,
translucent porcelain produced
Asia. He overcame these setbacks
with sustained effort, and in 1794
he founded the Thun factory, named
for the owners of the chateau. It has been
in continuous operation since that time.
Of historical interest
The Renaissance chateau was acquired
cheaply by the Thun family in 1621 after
its confiscation from the previous owner,
who had participated in the uprising
of the Czech aristocracy against
Habsburg rule. The Thirty Years’ War,
however, affected them, too: Swedish
troops twice plundered and devastated
the chateau. It required costly rebuilding,
this time in the Baroque style.
The way in which contemporary
tastes were reflected in the design
of porcelain products is evidenced
by a large exhibition devoted to the
development of Czech porcelain.
A walk in the park is enlivened by
the sculpturesofJanBrokoff,
such as his statues of the continents.
Australia, however, is missing – it had
not yet been discovered at the time.
IIV–IX daily, X–III Friday–Sunday.
www.zamek-klasterec.cz
Chomutovská 1
431 51 Klášterec nad Ohří
Kokořín
Reason to visit
The castle, set in a picturesque
region of sandstone rocks, lakes
and half-forgotten villages, is located
just 40 kilometres from Prague.
When in the late 19th century it was
bought by Prague businessman
Václav Špaček, it had long been
an abandoned ruin. Under the supervision
of four leading art historians,
he thoroughly reconstructed it and made
it accessible to the public. In the valley
below the castle he built a swimming
pool and tennis courts, thereby making
the Kokořínsko region a popular
recreation and tourist destination.
Of historical interest
After the Thirty Years’ War,
the Austrian Emperor Ferdinand rated
the abandoned medieval residence
as a “cursed castle” that was not worthy
of repair. It became a refuge for robber
barons and highwaymen, who threatened
the surrounding area. The romantic
19th-century ruins were “discovered”
by young patriots, and many writers
and artists have drawn inspiration here.
The castle walkways and massive
cylindricaltower offer magnificent
views of the Kokořínsko Protected
Landscape Area.
V–IX Tuesday–Sunday,
IV, X weekends.
www.hrad-kokorin.cz
277 23 Kokořín
36 Castles and chateaux 37
Konopiště
Reason to visit
In the romanticizing reconstruction
of the palatial residence of the heir to
the Austrian throne Franz Ferdinand
d’Este, nothing was left to chance.
The chateau was equipped with all
the creature comforts of the time –
flushing toilets, a lift, central heating
and electricity generated by its own
hydroelectric plant. The archduke lived
there happily
with his family, at arm’s length from
the outside world. The idyll ended
with his assassination in Sarajevo
in 1914, where he died along with
his beloved wife.
Of historical interest
In Czech terms, it is an unusual
castle. Built in the late 13th century
on the model of French castle fortresses,
it was protected by seven massive towers,
which formed a separate fortress,
and it had five gates and two
drawbridges. Even though it was
considered one of the strongest
in the Kingdom of Bohemia, it was looted
by Swedish troops during the Thirty
Years’ War.
Franz Ferdinand d’Este was an avid
hunter and a passionate art collector.
He amassed everything he could with
the motif of St. George – pipes, coins,
weapons, swords, vessels, banners,
tombstones, sculptures, paintings.
He wanted to outdo the king
of England, who had the same hobby
and to whom he liked to boast about
his collection. His assassination
defeated this aim.
A popular attraction with children
– bears – have a long tradition at the
chateau. They have reportedly been
kept here since the 18th century.
25–31 III daily, IV–X Tuesday –
Sunday, XI weekends.
www.zamek-konopiste.cz
Konopiště 1
256 01 Benešov
Kost
Reason to visit
Kost Castle lies in an attractive landscape
of forests and sandstone rocks, which
because of its charm is rightly called
Bohemian Paradise. It stands on a low
promontory above ponds whose dams
were released in times of danger,
turning the castle it into a water fortress.
In times when war threatened, the lord
of the castle retreated with his family
to the top floor of the solidly built White
Tower.
Of historical interest
At the time of the religious wars
of the 15th century, the castle presented
a problem for the invincible Hussite
leader Jan Žižka. It is said that he did
not conquer the castle because its walls
were as hard as bone (kost in Czech),
and he withdrew disappointed. The truth
is a bit different: The castle simply was
overlooked by his troops because, unlike
other medieval palaces, it does not stand
atop a hill, but in the valley.
Tip: A 10-kilometre route leads
from below Kost Castle through
the picturesque Plakánek valley
to Humprecht Castle near Sobotka.
The exhibition presents the Kinský
family in the Czech lands, to whom
the well-run castle still belongs.
In the cellar you can visit amedieval
torturechamberwith illustrative
examples of “interrogation methods”
which reliably brought about
a confession.
VII–VIII daily, IV and X Wednesday–
Sunday, V–VI and IX Tuesday–Sunday.
Children can draw a picture
of the castle during a visit and hand
it in at the cashier. If the owner
of the castle likes the picture,
the child will receive a diploma and
the picture will be displayed in a place
of honour in the castle and on its
website.
www.kinskycastles.com
Podkost 1–8
507 45 Mladějov v Čechách
38 Castles and chateaux 39
Krásný Dvůr
Reason to visit
At the end of the 18th century, the first
and probably the biggest English park
in the country was established at this
Baroque chateau. Count Černín was
an avid botanist and he also travelled
a lot. In Western Europe he became
excited by a new method of bringing
the natural landscape all the way
up to buildings. Part of his conception
was also a series of romantic pavilions
modelled almost down to the last detail
after the French palace Versailles.
Of historical interest
The history of the estate is linked
with the history of the Černín family,
who owned the chateau up until
the Second World War, when the Nazis
usurped it as a resort for the elites
of the Third Reich. Since 1945 it has
been in the possession of the Czech state.
The charm of the 18 accessible
rooms in the chateau competes
with a visit to its singular naturally
landscaped park. Many beautiful
moments were spent here
by J.W.Goethe, who set up
a makeshift study in one
of the pavilions.
V–IX Tuesday–Sunday,
IV, X weekends and public holidays.
Krásný Dvůr
late-summer concerts (IX).
www.krasny-dvur.cz
Zámek č. 1
439 72 Krásný Dvůr
Kratochvíle
Reason to visit
Vilém of Rožmberk (Rosenberg), awash
in wealth and good taste, had Italian
architects build for his and his friends’
pleasure a charming water summer
palace for moments of fun and relaxation
(kratochvíle means “pastime”). There
was probably no significant personality
in the Czech lands, including Emperor
Rudolf II himself, who did not visit this
Renaissance gem.
Of historical interest
Jakub Krčín acquired a small fort along
with some land near Netolice in 1569
as a gift for good service in administering
the assets of the Rožmberks.
With his admirable managerial skills
and his strictness towards the subjects
of the dominion in southern Bohemia,
he significantly improved economic
conditions, including through the building
of productive ponds, and managed to fully
fund the expensive lifestyle of his master.
The donated manor prospered so much
that Vilém of Rožmberk realized
that its location was absolutely ideal
for the leisure of Renaissance society,
and at great cost he reacquired it and built
his own villa.
A colourful array of murals
with hunting and religious scenes
and gilded stucco shines in its full
splendour after extensive restoration
work. The administration of the stateowned
chateau is gradually returning
period furnishings to the chateau
in accordance with the original
purpose of the rooms.
V–IX Tuesday–Sunday,
IV, X weekends and public holidays.
www.zamek-kratochvile.eu
Státní zámek Kratochvíle
384 11 Netolice
40 Castles and chateaux 41
Kroměříž
Reason to visit
The historical gardens, especially
the Flower Garden, are the pride
of the chateau. The unique conception
to link the world of plants and water with
art and architecture, together with its
unaltered appearance, earned it a place
on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Of historical interest
From the Middle Ages, Kroměříž was
the summer residence of the bishops
of Olomouc and is a reflection of their
power and wealth. In the Baroque period,
it was spoken of as the “Moravian
Athens”. The magnificent buildings
were supplied with equally splendid
furniture, glass, porcelain, books and art
works. Its permanent house musicians
surpassed in number and repertoire
the court musicians of the Austrian
emperor and the French king.
Tip: Do not miss a visit to the vaulted
medieval Archbishop’s Cellars, where
you can samplesacramentalwine that
is lovingly made and decanted.
This grand palace is home
to a collectionofCentralEuropean
paintings from the 15th
to the 18th century that is famous
throughout Europe. Here you
will find original works by Titian,
Van Dyck, Cranach the Elder
and Dürer. The 84-metre tower
of the chateau provides a beautiful
view of the historical heart
of Kroměříž and the outlying area.
V–IX Tuesday–Sunday,
IV, X weekends only.
www.zamek-kromeriz.cz
Sněmovní náměstí 1
767 01 Kroměříž
Křivoklát
Reason to visit
Rising up from wooded hills is the high
white cylindrical tower of this ancient
castle with extensive fortifications.
Due to its excellent location,
surrounded by forests full of game, it was
popular with many Czech rulers. The
castle halls were witness to much joyous
feasting and drinking, but also to many
serious political negotiations and fateful
diplomatic talks.
Of historical interest
The royal residence was built in the
13th century as the foothold of the ruling
Přemyslid dynasty. Later it served
as a state prison. For example,
Edward Kelley, a court alchemist
of Emperor Rudolf II, spent three
years here for murdering an imperial
official in a duel.
The castle experienced many
fires and subsequent reconstructions,
which were completed in the
20th century. The only room
with its original decorations is a Gothic
chapel with a richly carved altar.
Traces of the Czech kings and the
splendour of their lifestyle, however,
are found at every turn. This is thanks
in part to conservationists, who have
successfully sought out and returned
to the castle historical collections
which had been removed.
II–III Saturday, IV–VI and IX–X
Tuesday–Sunday, VII–VIII daily,
XI weekends.
www.krivoklat.cz
Křivoklát 47
270 23 Křivoklát
42 Castles and chateaux 43
Kuks
Reason to visit
A fascinating set of Baroque
sculptures decorates the stone terrace
in front of the monumental church and
adjacent monastery on a hill above the
river Elbe. The Allegory of Virtues
and Vices and other groups of
sandstone sculptures are the work of the
“Czech Michelangelo” – Matyáš Bernard
Braun, who created them in an incredibly
short amount of time for Count František
Antonín Špork. A sharp contrast to the
humble work of the Brothers of Charity
in the monastery hospital for the poor
was his magnificent life of luxury, balls,
theatre, hunting and other pastimes
at the sumptuous spa residence on the
opposite slope. The direct view from
the count’s bedroom of the eternal light
flickering on his ancestral tomb was a
reminder that all worldly pleasures come
to an end.
Of historical interest
The founder of the Kuks complex and
other excellent buildings, libraries and
art galleries, Count Špork was a large
and contradictory personality of the
Czech Baroque era who suffered all his
life from a complex about the humble
origins of his father. All the more,
he tried to turn both slopes of the Elbe
into a grand centre of elite aristocratic
society, providing his guests with all
kinds of amusements and comforts.
His fame lasted a mere 40 years.
Many of the buildings, including
a chateau, are irretrievably gone, but the
remarkable energy of the place remains.
Tip: The brilliant master of Baroque
sculpture M.B.Braun is also the
creator of an unusual set of statues
and reliefs in the forest 3 kilometres
to the west of Kuks. He sculpted
biblical scenes directly into blocks
of stone so that they would appear
to be the work of nature. The forest
gallery is freely accessible along
marked hiking trails.
In addition to an unguided tour
of the complex with the outdoor
sculpture gallery, you can visit the
abbey church and its crypt with
the tomb of Count Špork, the interiors
of theBaroquehospital with
a pharmacy, and the unique exhibition
of the CzechPharmaceutical
Museum.
VII–VIII daily,
IV, VI and IX, X Tuesday–Sunday,
www.hospital-kuks.cz
Hospital Kuks, 544 43 Kuks
Kunětická hora
Reason to visit
In the fertile plain of the Elbe
valley in East Bohemia, the ruin
of a hilltop Gothic castle majestically
rises above the horizon. It was once
higher, but stone was excavated
from the hill over the centuries,
to be used, for example,
in building the nearby city of Pardubice.
Finally, the quarry collapsed and took
part of the castle complex with it.
An extensive reconstruction
in the 20th century was organized
by the Museum Association in Pardubice
according to plans by the outstanding
architect Dušan Jurkovič.
Of historical interest
The castle became very famous during
the religious wars of the 15th century.
It was seized by the acclaimed Hussite
commander Diviš Bořek, who,
with the help of local people, built
an ingenious system of
fortifications in just two years’ time.
Among the most interesting
objects in an exhibition
of archaeological finds are dice
that are more than 500 years old.
And what would any self-respecting
castle be without an exhibition
of medieval torture devices? But one
thing you will not find anywhere else
is the executioner’s price list,
from which it is evident that
the executioner earned a decent
sum for practising his profession.
IV and X weekends, V–IX Tuesday–
Sunday.
www.hrad-kunetickahora.cz
533 52 Staré Hradiště
44 Castles and chateaux 45
Kunín
Reason to visit
One of the most valuable Baroque
palaces in northern Moravia and Silesia,
it experienced its heyday at the turn
of the 19th century under Marie
Walburga (née Harrachová), Countess
of Truchsess-Waldburg-Zeil. The
beautiful and intelligent countess had
a tragic fate: Three of her children died
here and her husband left her, taking
their last son. Despite this, or perhaps
because of it, she managed to bring
happiness to hundreds of children
of different social strata and faiths.
At the chateau she built and co-funded
an educational and instructional institute
that was one of the most modern
in Europe in its day.
Of historical interest
This once enlightened centre
of education and culture was plundered
at the end of the Second World War by
the Soviet Army. Soldiers rode horses
through the chateau interiors, they used
furniture and books as heating fuel, and
they amused themselves by cutting rare
paintings to ribbons. It was dealt
the mercy blow in the communist era.
In 1999 the dilapidated chateau became
the property of the town of Kunín, which
set out to rescue this Baroque pearl.
In addition to tours of the chateau
classrooms, it is also worth making
a trip up to the chateau loft to see a
uniquesystemofBaroquechimneys.
V–IX Tuesday-Sunday. IV and X
weekends and public holidays.
www.zamek.kunin.cz
Zámek Kunín 1, 742 53 Kunín
Kynžvart
Reason to visit
Kynžvart Chateau with its unique
collections is among the most
important monuments in Europe. With
help from the European Union, it was
reopened to the public in 2000 after a
quarter-century, and gradually the rare
manuscripts from the library
of Chancellor Metternich are being
digitalized.
Of historical interest
Having lived most of his life
in the Czech lands, the unpopular
and feared Austrian state chancellor
Prince Metternich devoted loving
attention to his chateau in the West
Bohemia spa region. For the extensive
renovation of the dilapidated residence
he even borrowed from the Rothschild
bankers the breathtaking sum
of 900,000 guldens. The loan benefitted
both parties: The prince built a luxury
residence corresponding to his position
and still was able to buy jewellery, coins
and art, while the Rothschild family was
raised to the rank of nobility for their
service.
An avid collector, Metternich built
up at the chateau his unrivalled cabinet
of curiosities, which is one of the oldest
publicly accessible museums in Europe.
V–IX Tuesday–Sunday,
IV, X weekends and public holidays.
www.zamek-kynzvart.eu
Zámek Kynžvart
354 91 Lázně Kynžvart
46 Castles and chateaux 47
Landštejn
Reason to visit
This hulking royal castle set in the
unspoilt countryside of Bohemia’s most
southerly tip, which because of its harsh
climate is called “Czech Canada”, is one
of the most important Romanesque
monuments in Central Europe.
It was built in the 13th century to protect
an important trade route and
the border between the Czech lands and
Austria. Although all that remains of
it is a monumental ruin, its austere
architecture, secondary to its defensive
function, still elicits admiration.
Of historical interest
The overland trade route brought great
wealth to the owners of the castle.
Its course was the cause of constant
conflict with equally powerful
neighbours, the Lords of Hradec.
The conflict erupted into a regular war,
and ultimately led to a personal duel
between irreconcilable opponents,
in which Vilém of Landštejn was mortally
wounded. The route was diverted,
and the castle lost its importance.
Thanks to extensive archaeological
research and display of the findings,
you can get an idea of the luxurious
lives of the castle’s inhabitants in the
13th and 14th centuries. They were
among the period’s cream of society
and led a sumptuous existence, which
they made more pleasant with luxury
utility objects, artistically crafted
artefacts, and the technological
conveniences of the time.
IV, X weekends, V, VII, VIII – daily,
VI and IX Tuesday–Sunday.
www.hrad-landstejn.eu
Státní hrad Landštejn
378 81 Slavonice
Lednice
Reason to visit
This chateau and its French garden
with a unique greenhouse, along with
a vast park set in a loosely modified
landscape extending all the way to the
Valtice Chateau, is one of the high points
of European High Romanticism.
Of historical interest
Since the Early Middle Ages, generations
of the Liechtenstein family acquired
and developed expanses of land
extending across both sides of the
present Czech–Austrian border.
In the 19th century, Prince Alois II
decided that the chateau in Lednice
would be more appropriate than
sultry Vienna for summer gatherings,
celebrations and balls for the European
aristocracy, and he had it ostentatiously
rebuilt in the spirit of the English
Gothic Revival.
Four castle tour circuits offer
an idea of the social and private lives
of the aristocracy across the centuries.
A unique feature is a beautiful park
called the “GardenofEurope”
with many uncommon trees, ponds
with rare nesting water birds,
and a range of interesting small
structures, such as a 60-metre Turkish
minaret, a lookout point called
the Temple of the Sun God Apollo,
and an artificial ruin called John’s
Castle, all of which the owners
hoped would enrich the seemingly
unattractive landscape.
II–IV, X–XII weekends, V, VI and IX
Tuesday–Sunday, VII–VIII daily.
www.zamek-lednice.com
Zámek 1
691 44 Lednice
The ornate mansions of the nobles often
came to life with magnificent balls and mesmerising
theatrical spectacles. Come see
these luxurious chateaus that are part
of the unique European heritage.
Live the Baroque through
all your senses.
Come to the Czech Republic and discover
the unique beauty of the Czech Baroque.
3 hours from Praguewww.czechbaroque.com
Valtice
The ornnate mansions of th
50 Castles and chateaux 51
Lipnice
nad Sázavou
Reason to visit
Seven centuries of Czech history are
written on the walls of one of the
biggest Czech aristocratic castles.
Starting in the 14th century, this castle
on a rocky ridge between two hills
withstood incursions and, like a sentry,
watched over the surrounding silver
mines and the trade routes lacing across
the region around the Sázava River
on the border between the Kingdom
of Bohemia and the Margraviate
of Moravia.
Of historical interest
In 1869, the entire castle and the
settlement below it was devastated
by a catastrophic fire, which was watched
with horror by the whole region.
The burnt ruin remained abandoned
for half a century. After the First World
War, the Czechoslovak Hiking Club
purchased it for 100 crowns,
and its gradual recovery continues till
the present.
Tip: Lipnice is inextricably linked
with the name of Jaroslav Hašek,
who in a house below the castle
(now a museum) and in the pub
U České koruny (At the Czech Crown)
wrote most of his world-famous novel
TheGoodSoldierŠvejk. The writer
is also buried here. Every summer
a festival of humour and satire called
Hašek’s Lipnice takes place in a natural
amphitheatre (VII).
An unguided tour of the monumental
and rugged medieval castle
with singular views of the surrounding
area is complemented by a visit
to the extensive maze of castle cellars.
V–VIII Tuesday–Sunday,
IV, IX and X weekends and public
holidays.
www.hrad-lipnice.eu
Státní hrad
582 32 Lipnice nad Sázavou
Litomyšl
Reason to visit
This arcaded chateau from
the 16th century is one of the most
important Renaissance monuments
north of the Alps. You can stand
for hours in front of the facades
and gables in the shape of swallow tails
looking for duplicate designs among
the hundreds of sgraffito “love letters”
carved into the plaster – you won’t
find any.
Of historical interest
The chateau also has a French garden,
an English park and many outbuildings,
including its own brewery. In 1824,
a great celebration took place there
and beer flowed freely. The brewer’s
11th child had just been born – a son
at last. His name was Bedřich
Smetana and he grew up to be a great
composer.
Two tour circuits include
the representational rooms with
the Baroquechateautheatre
and the aristocratic residential rooms
with the possibility to gaze out from
the 55-metretowerand explore
the chateau cellars. The acoustically
superb courtyard with a unique
retractable roof comes alive with
period music, a reminder that every
year a first-rate music festival along
with related exhibitions and other
events takes place at the chateau
and in the picturesque town around it.
V–IX Tuesday–Sunday,
IV and X weekends and public
holidays.
International opera festival
Smetana’s Litomyšl (VI–VII).
www.zamek-litomysl.cz
Jiráskova 93
570 01 Litomyšl
52 Castles and chateaux 53
Loket
Reason to visit
The Czech name of the royal castle
and the eponymous town below
it dates to the Early Middle
Ages, thanks to a graceful meander
in the Ohře (Eger) river recalling the
bend of a human arm (loket means
“elbow”). The legendary King Charles IV
liked to stay here and would alternate
his state duties with hunting in his game
reserves. It is said that while on a hunt
his retinue discovered a hot spring which
healed the king’s ailing leg. At the site
of the miraculous spring he founded
the town of Teplé lázně near Loket –
today’s Karlovy Vary.
Of historical interest
Charles IV loved Loket, even though
his royal father had him imprisoned here
with his mother for several months
as a young boy. When he was 3 years
old, he was separated from his mother,
whom he never saw again. Aristocrats
were held in the prison here many
times throughout history, but from
the 18th century until 1949 the castle
served as an ordinary county jail.
The most impressive part
of the tour are places where torture
was practised. In the cells of the fourstorey
former prison there are moving
life-sized figures on which various
methods of torture are demonstrated
with a heart-wrenching background
soundtrack.
I–XII daily.
Medieval Festival (VIII).
www.hradloket.cz
Zámecká 67
357 33 Loket
Manětín
Reason to visit
This chateau harmonizes with an
unobtrusive little town into a exceptional
whole, nicknamed the “Baroque pearl
of West Bohemia”. After a devastating
fire in the early 18th century, Count
Lažanský invited the leading architects
of the Czech High Baroque to completely
restore his residence here.
Of historical interest
Manětín owes its singular atmosphere
to the sculptures scattered throughout
the town and even lining the main road
to Plzeň (Pilsen). Stone statues of saints,
atlantids, and allegories of the elements
and human qualities look down from
their pedestals at the chateau, in the
cemetery, in the middle of fountains;
they gaze up from the terrace into
the chateau’s windows. This tradition
was started in the late 18th century,
when the local gentry sent a young
stone mason to Prague to learn from
the famous Jan Brokoff.
A tour presents life at the castle
under the Lažanský family, particularly
Marie Gabriela, who had an unusual
group of 13 paintings made of her
servants.
V–IX Tuesday–Sunday,
IV and X weekends.
www.zamek-manetin.cz
Zámek 1
331 62 Manětín
54 Castles and chateaux 55
Mělník
Reason to visit
A visit to this castle with its spectacular
view of the confluence of the Elbe
and Vltava rivers below the ancient
vineyards and the sacred mountain Říp
on the horizon is like a trip to the roots
of Czech history. Two legendary Slavic
families, the Pšovans and the Čechs
(Czechs), were united in a princely
marriage here. Princess Ludmila,
the first Czech saint, with her husband,
Prince Bořivoj, then brought Christianity
to the Czech lands and founded
the ruling Přemyslid dynasty.
Of historical interest
From the Early Middle Ages, the castle
was inhabited by the widows of Czech
kings and princes, and during the reign
of Emperor Charles IV the town became
part of the dowry of Czech queens. Later
the chateau was owned by various noble
families, and since the 18th century
it has belonged to one of the oldest
surviving Czech aristocratic families –
the Lobkowicz family.
The high point of the accessible
ceremonial and residential rooms
of the Early Baroque chateau
is the GreatHall with its unique
collectionof17th-centurymaps
of all major European cities along with
illustrations of the places. They are
a testament to the excellent work
of the cartographers, graphic artists
and printers of that time.
I–XII daily.
The origins of winemaking
in Bohemia date to the 10th century,
when Princess Ludmila established
the first vineyard in Mělník. The current
owner renewed the production
of wine and offers a rich selection
in the chateau cellars – the most
famous of which is Ludmila, whose
distinctive bottle shape dates
to the time of the great medieval
monarch Charles IV.
www.lobkowicz-melnik.cz
Svatováclavská 19/16
276 01 Mělník
Mikulov
Reason to visit
The town of Mikulov is located in the
heart of South Moravia’s winemaking
region, in the beautiful Protected
Landscape Area of Pálava. Besides visits
to local and family wine cellars and
tastings at wineries and wine shops,
also worth a stop is the historical chateau
cellar with an exhibition on traditional
winemaking. A richly decorated giant
Renaissance wine cask able to hold
101,400 litres and weighing 26.1 tonnes
is the largest in the Czech Republic.
Of historical interest
This Baroque chateau towering high
above the town became the victim
of fateful fires. Most recently, it burned
to the ground a few days before
the end of the Second World War,
as the German Army was retreating.
Thanks to an initiative by local residents,
it was not long before it was sensitively
restored and its interiors adapted
to house a regional museum.
The museum expositions present
not only the local winemaking tradition
but also the history of the chateau
and the noble Dietrichstein family.
There are also archaeology displays
and seasonal short-term exhibitions.
V–IX Tuesday–Sunday,
IV, X, XI weekends.
Since 1994, one of the highestquality
collectionsofcontemporary
art in the Czech Republic has been
forming in the chateau’s “Workshop”
as the result of the annual summer
art symposia held here.
www.rmm.cz
Zámek 1
692 15 Mikulov
56 Castles and chateaux 57
Milotice
Reason to visit
This pearl on a string of Baroque
chateaux in Moravia is located amidst
fertile vineyards and wine cellars
in the Slovácko (Moravian Slovakia)
region along the Moravian wine trail.
It acquired its current appearance,
including a French Baroque garden,
a pheasantry, an orangery, a riding
school and stables, in the 18th century
under the Serényi family, after the old
residence was twice ravaged by foreign
marauders.
Of historical interest
Count Serényi, whose origins were
Hungarian, spent most of his time
at the imperial court in Vienna,
but he often invited select members
of Viennese society to his Milotice estate,
particularly to show off his singular
collection of noble thoroughbred horses
in the sumptuous castle stables.
Portraits of his 32 most precious
stallions are displayed at the chateau.
A tour of the interiors with period
furnishings, precisely recreated
on the basis of contemporary
photographs and recollections
of living eyewitnesses, offers insight
into the lifestyle of the last owners
of the chateau, the German family
Seilern Aspang.
V–IX Tuesday–Sunday,
IV and X weekends and public
holidays.
A sales gallery of wine
and a wine bar.
www.zamekmilotice.cz
Zámecká 1
696 05 Milotice
Mnichovo
Hradiště
Reason to visit
In the western spur of the beautiful
countryside known as Bohemian
Paradise, the Wallenstein family
built a luxurious residence exactly
corresponding to the family motto:
“In spite of envy!” (Invit invidia!).
Of historical interest
The chateau’s founder, the prominent
Protestant politician, writer and patriot
Václav Budovec, was executed in
1621 as one of the main leaders of the
Bohemian uprising against the emperor.
His confiscated chateau along with
the entire estate was awarded to the
emperor’s military leader Albrecht von
Wallenstein, becoming part of his vast
and ever-growing holdings. A few years
later, his life also came to a premature
end when he was killed by assassins to
stop his plans to top off his stellar career
with coronation as king of Bohemia.
His body, after many transfers, was laid
to rest 150 years after his death in the
St. Anne Chapel near the chateau.
Several circuits through the rich
interiors of the Baroquechateau
take visitors back to the aristocratic
lifestyle of the 18th century. At that time
22,000 volumes of books were moved
here from another chateau belonging
to the powerful Wallensteins, Duchcov,
where the ageing lothario and diplomatmachinator
Giacomo Casanova lived
in exile, managing its library until
his death.
V–IX Tuesday–Sunday,
IV and X weekends and public holidays.
Special Saturday backstage tours
of the historical chateau theatre from
the 18th century (V–IX).
Sunday tours for children by
a guide in period costume and with
a fairy tale about enchanted knights
(VII–VIII).
www.mnichovo-hradiste.cz
Státní zámek
295 01 Mnichovo Hradiště
58 Castles and chateaux 59
Náchod
Reason to visit
When the Italian general Ottavio
Piccolomini received this chateau
and the extensive surrounding estate
in 1634 as a gift from the emperor
for his part in dispatching General
Albrecht von Wallenstein, he was only
35 years old. However, he already had
behind him distinguished military
service in the Thirty Years’ War.
It is not surprising, therefore, that
the first alteration to his new residence
was to modernize the fortifications.
In the 150 years that the Piccolomini
family reigned over the dominion the
chateau acquired its current essentially
Baroque and Rococo appearance.
Of historical interest
Albrecht von Wallenstein’s mother
came from the Smiřický family,
the longtime owners of the Náchod
estate. In the 17th century, they owned
the greatest area of land in the Bohemian
Kingdom, including dozens of castles
and towns. However, the emperor
confiscated the property from the last
heiress, who had supported the uprising
of the Czech nobility in 1620.
It was soon also confiscated from the new
owner, Adam Erdman Trčka, Albrecht’s
brother-in-law and confidant, who was
assassinated together with the general
in 1634 in Cheb to scuttle the so-called
Wallenstein conspiracy.
The chateau offers six different
tour routes through its beautifully
decorated interiors. The newest circuit
features a unique collection of orders
of merit and decorations, most notably
jewels on grand cordons and order
stars from the old chateau vault.
V–IX Tuesday–Sunday, VII–VIII
daily, IV and X weekends and public
holidays.
Whoever is not amused
bythebearsDáša and Ludvík
in the moat can explore the unique
collection of historical toys
in the Piccolomini exposition.
www.zamek-nachod.cz
Zámek 1282
547 01 Náchod
Náměšť na Hané
Reason to visit
The splendid carriage of the Olomouc
archbishop had a star turn in Miloš
Forman’s film Amadeus, but it is not
the only remarkable one in the chateau’s
collection of historical carriages.
Particularly noteworthy are three
one-of-a-kind richly gilded coaches used
for ceremonial occasions. Their velvet,
gold-embroidered seats are filled with
eiderdown and the curtains
are sewn from precious brocade.
The total length of the carriage with
a team of six thoroughbred horses was
up to 15 metres, with the biggest
of the carriages measuring more
than 3.5 metres in height and weighing
over two tonnes.
Of historical interest
The iron wholesaler František Otáhal
bought the manor with a chateau
in the French style in 1916 from its last
aristocratic owner, Count Kinský.
It cost him 2.3 million Austro-Hungarian
kronen plus other major investments
in the modernization of the residence
intended to increase the property’s value.
The chateau, approached from four sides
by alleys of centuries-old linden trees,
was lost by the family a few weeks after
the end of the Second World War. It was
one of the first seizures under the decrees
ordered by Czechoslovak President
Edvard Beneš to confiscate the property
of ethnic Germans.
Part of one of the tours is an
exhibitionofmorethan50historical
prams.
V–IX Tuesday–Sunday,
IV and X weekends and public holidays.
www.zamek.namestnahane.cz
Hrad 1
783 44 Náměšť na Hané
60 Castles and chateaux 61
Náměšť
nad Oslavou
Reason to visit
The chateau rose to fame in the late
18th century as an important centre
of musical life in Central Europe.
The large chateau band was made
up of teachers and folk musicians from
the area, but mainly of the Haugwitz
family’s servants – anyone who could
not play an instrument well was
dismissed. The repertoire and the
artistic quality were excellent, and they
played as many as three times a week.
Famous composers and musicians were
often guests at the chateau. The musical
tradition continues today.
Of historical interest
The rebuilding of the no-longer-suitable
castle into a large Renaissance chateau
in the 16th century was carried out under
the Žerotín family. The cream
of the Moravian aristocracy gathered
here to be entertained and to further
their political and family ambitions.
At that time Moravia was a land
of prosperity, religious freedom
and tolerance. The Protestant Unity
of the Brethren had a printing press here,
which in 1578 was transferred to nearby
Kralice, where one of the most valuable
early works of literature in Czech
originated – the Kralice Bible.
A highlight of the tour is
a renowned collectionof24large
historicaltapestries from the
Renaissance to the 19th century.
V–IX Tuesday–Sunday,
IV, X weekends and public holidays.
The international multigenre
summer culture festival Folk Holidays
(VII), concerts at the chateau.
www.zamek-namest.cz
Zámek 1
675 71 Náměšť nad Oslavou
Nelahozeves
Reason to visit
The chateau holds a significant part
of the Lobkowicz collections, which
are among the oldest, largest and bestpreserved
private collections of
art and architecture in the Czech
Republic.
Of historical interest
The original fortress and also later
the Renaissance chateau built
in the Italian style by Italian artists
frequently changed hands, and no
owner stayed here for long. From
the 17th century, the palatial residence
was used only as offices and for storage,
and it gradually deteriorated.
An active new chapter began in the late
20th century, when the chateau was
restituted to the Lobkowicz family,
which opened it to the public.
Tip: The famous composer Antonín
Dvořák was born in Nelahozeves.
There is a museum located at his
family’s home, and the chateau hosts
a series of concerts of classical,
jazz and alternative music from
spring till autumn.
The view into the aristocratic
interiors of the Lobkowicz family
illustrates how an old and influential
noble family lived in one of their
eminent chateaux in the countryside.
Hunting was the main entertainment
of the autumn months, which is shown
by trophies of the chase, a collection
of firearms and stag horn furniture.
IV–X Tuesday-Sunday,
XI–III Saturday.
www.lobkowiczevents.cz
Zámek Lobkowiczů
277 51 Nelahozeves
62 Castles and chateaux 63
Nové Město
nad Metují
Reason to visit
At the beginning of the 20th century,
a wealthy owner of a textile factory,
J. Bartoň, bought this dilapidated
Baroque chateau to become his future
family home. The renowned architects
Dušan Jurkovič and Pavel Janák
converted it into a modern residence,
equipped with all the amenities of the
time, such as running water, central
heating, electricity, a telephone line, and
a passenger lift and dumbwaiter.
Of historical interest
In the 17th century, the chateau with the
entire estate was granted to the Scottish
sergeant Walter Leslie, who was elevated
to the rank of field marshal and made
an imperial count. This was a reward
for his participation in the assassination
of Albrecht von Wallenstein and other
Czech nobles accused of conspiring
against the emperor.
The modernizedhistorical
interiors, both the representational
rooms and also the private residential
rooms of the industrialist’s family,
were boldly decorated by leading
Czech artists in the period’s prevailing
styles of Art Nouveau, Art Deco,
Cubism and Functionalism.
V and VI, IX Tuesday–Sunday,
VII and VIII daily, IV, X weekends
and public holidays.
www.zameknm.cz
Husovo náměstí 1201
549 01 Nové Město nad Metují
Olomouc
Reason to visit
The importance for Czech history
of the Přemyslid castle in Olomouc
is comparable only with that of Prague
Castle. The remnant of the 12th-century
Bishop’s Palace with its magnificent
stone windows is considered to be
one of the most significant monuments
of Romanesque residential
architecture in Europe. It stands in stark
contrast to the ultramodern reconstruction
of the entire complex into an attractive art
museum, which has won many prestigious
awards for the young architects who
designed it.
Of historical interest
Before he became the first Czech king,
Prince Vratislav II established a bishopric
in Olomouc in 1063 – its seat was directly
in the castle. Inside these walls in 1306,
one of the first Czech crime mysteries
played out, which has yet to be solved: The
murder of the 16-year-old King Wenceslas
III, who was resting here before heading
to Poland on a military campaign, has
never been fully understood. It meant
the definitive end of the only Czech royal
dynasty, the Přemyslids. Thirty members
of the dynasty ruled for more than 400
years. The castle was then left to the clergy.
The permanent exhibition
of the Archdiocese Museum presents
art treasures from the 12th to the
18th century – one of the best Central
European collectionsofoldpaintings
– along with objects from the vault of
the Olomouc archbishops. The number
of items and their well-organized
display makes this the second most
important Czech art institution after
the National Gallery in Prague.
I–XII Tuesday–Sunday.
www.olmuart.cz
Václavské náměstí 3
771 11 Olomouc
64 Castles and chateaux 65
Opočno
Reason to visit
At first it seemed as though Jan Rudolf
Trčka of Lípa had it made. He had
inherited a magnificent Renaissance
chateau and a profitable estate and had
married Marie Magdalena of Lobkowicz,
a woman not only beautiful and intelligent
but also vibrant and business-minded.
Perhaps too a fault. Her subjects
nicknamed her “evil Manda” because
of her selfishness, greed and cruelty.
After 1620, when the Czech nobility
was defeated in its revolt against
the emperor, she became the richest
woman of her time through property
speculation, intrigues, and her contacts
on both the losing and winning sides.
She dreamed of a military followed
by a political career for her son, but
the dream ended with his death
and the loss of honour along with
all the family’s property.
Of historical interest
Fateful for Trčka of Lípa was his
alliance with Albrecht von Wallenstein.
Previously the emperor’s favourite
commander, in 1634 Wallenstein
was accused of conspiracy, deposed
and assassinated along with his friends
and advisers, among whom was
the young officer Adam Erdman Trčka
– his brother-in-law. The family died
out with him, and Opočno fell into
the possession of the Italian noble family
Colloredo, who remained here until
the Second World War.
V–IX Tuesday–Sunday,
IV and X weekends and public
holidays.
www.zamek-opocno.cz
Trčkovo náměstí 1
517 73 Opočno
Orlík
Reason to visit
Like an eagle’s nest, a wooden castle
was built in the 13th century on a steep
cliff overlooking the Vltava River. It was
later transformed into a Gothic stone
castle for the royal garrison. Even though
the castle’s high perch and the area below
the castle were engulfed by a dam in the
20th century, it retains its impressive
appearance as well as the name Orlík
(which means “eaglet”).
Of historical interest
Orlík experienced its heyday after 1802,
under Karl Philipp Schwarzenberg.
Already at the age of 16, the young prince
set out on a brilliant military career,
first in the bodyguard of the Austrian
emperor, then within four years
as a colonel, and soon after as a marshal
and chief commander of the antiNapolean
troops. His 237,000 men
decisively crushed Napoleon’s French
Army in the crucial Battle of the Nations
at Leipzig in 1813.
The diplomatic talent
of the Schwarzenbergs is attested
to not only by a unique collection
of orders of merit but also by the
salons with Empire-style furniture
imported from Karl Philipp’s
ambassadorial residence in Paris
– and perhaps additionally by the post
formerly held by the current owner,
Karel Schwarzenberg, as minister
of foreign affairs of the Czech
Republic.
VII–VIII daily,
IV–VI and IX, X Tuesday–Sunday.
www.zamekorlik.cz
Zámek Orlík
398 07 Orlík nad Vltavou
66 Castles and chateaux 67
Pernštejn
Reason to visit
This marble castle with a silvery
access path (made from mica stones)
and splendid architecture rises from
a rock above deep green forests like
the mysterious abode of the Lord
of the Rings. Oriels attached to the upper
stories like swallows’ nests ingeniously
enlarged the living space of the castle.
Of historical interest
The castle bears the name of a famous
noble family, one of the richest
in the Czech lands, for whom large
loans from the emperor became fateful.
When the Pernštejns could not repay
them, they were forced to sell off their
vast estate. The castle has retained
its Gothic-Renaissance form,
unchanged since its completion
in the 16th century. Its underused
interiors have been significantly marred
by the ravages of time and by vandals.
Thick walls, small windows
and impressive vaulting, a dungeon
and chapel – this is the Gothic core
of the castle. But also spiralstaircases
and narrowcorridorswith many
authentic medieval inscriptions –
excerpts from Ovid as well
as lascivious drawings of military
guards from long ago. It is a sharp
contrast with the comfortably
furnished rooms of the last owner.
V–IX Tuesday–Sunday,
IV and X weekends and public
holidays.
www.hrad-pernstejn.eu
Státní hrad Pernštejn
592 62 Nedvědice
Ploskovice
Reason to visit
For this sumptuous Baroque chateau,
which could equal the residences
of foreign nobles, the ambitious
Anna Marie Franziska, Grand Duchess
of Tuscany, paid the unheard-of sum
of over a million guldens. The “little
Versailles” was of enormous importance
to her, and she personally oversaw
its construction and paid the workers
each week. To hide the extent of her
extravagance from her husband,
she burned all the bills, so neither
the construction details nor the identity
of the architect are known.
Of historical interest
In the late 15th century, an uprising
of serfs took place at the chateau
and the estate. Its main protagonist
was the knight Dalibor of Kozojedy, an
advocate for the oppressed.
As punishment, he was thrown into
the new dungeon at Prague Castle as
its first prisoner and then executed.
His story was revived in the Romantic
era of the 19th century, when, thanks
to the patriotic opera Dalibor by Bedřich
Smetana, it became a symbol of Czech
music.
The 19th-century interiors
evoke the atmosphere of the summer
residence of the retired Austrian
emperor and last crowned king
of Bohemia, Ferdinand V of Habsburg.
The Baroqueartificialwatercaves
should not be missed.
V–IX Tuesday–Sunday,
IV and X weekends and public
holidays.
www.zamek-ploskovice.cz
Státní zámek
411 42 Ploskovice 1
68 Castles and chateaux 69
Prague –
Prague Castle
Reason to visit
It is difficult to decide which Prague
panorama is more captivating:
the one from the river, looking up
at the unmistakable silhouette of Prague
Castle, or the view from the terraces
and windows of Prague Castle, looking
down at the magical city with its
hundreds of towers and monuments
dotting the hills on both banks of the
Vltava River, spanned by a procession
of historical bridges. In any case,
Prague Castle with St. Vitus Cathedral
is a national treasure, the symbol
of Czech statehood, and the place that
most contributes to Prague’s reputation
as a city of unparalleled beauty.
Of historical interest
Whether you choose to enter Prague
Castle through the monumental
ceremonial gates, just as kings and
emperors once did with their processions
and presidents now do in their
limousines, or through the “back servants’
entrance” – the more romantic Old Castle
Steps along the castle’s terraced South
Gardens, you will be impressed by the
size and splendour of this ancient place of
Czech rulers. Even today it is the seat of
the head of state. The castle is a textbook
of architecture, with first-rate
monuments in every style, from the
Romanesque Old Royal Palace, the Gothic
St. Vitus Cathedral, and the Renaissance
Queen Anne’s Summer Palace (Belvedere)
to the Baroque Picture Gallery, the
Classicist ceremonial halls and the hightech
hothouse in the gardens designed by
the world-renowned architect Eva Jiřičná.
It is like walking through a 3D film about
Czech history and national identity.
Tip: Every hour there is a changing
of the guard at the castle gates,
and at noon in the First Courtyard
it is accompanied by fanfare
and a flag ceremony.
The entire castle complex
is freely accessible. Tours of the
interiors include the Old Royal
Palace, the permanent exhibition
“The Story of Prague Castle”,
St. George’s Basilica, the Prague
Castle Picture Gallery, the Powder
Tower, St. Vitus Cathedral with
the tomb of Czech kings, Rožmberk
Palace, the South Tower of the
cathedral, and the Golden Lane with
the castle walls. The ceremonial
halls of Prague Castle are accessible
two days a year, usually on the first
Saturday after May 8th and the
first Saturday after October 28th.
Throughout the year, many areas
of the castle hold temporary
exhibitions and cultural events.
The castle complex and visitor
areas I–XII daily, gardens IV–X daily.
Summer Shakespeare Festival
– the oldest and biggest open-air
Shakespeare theatre festival
in Europe (VI–IX).
The Supreme Burgrave’s Palace
houses one of the largest private
collections of toys in the world,
with numerous unique objects
from Europe and North America.
www.prague.eu
Pražský hrad
119 08 Praha 1
70 Castles and chateaux 71
Prague –
Troja Chateau
Reason to visit
The atmosphere of the “Eternal City”
Rome captivated the young Czech Count
Václav Vojtěch of Šternberk (Sternberg)
so much that he decided to bring a piece of
it home. In selecting the site and the artists
to carry out his dream of a magnificent
Baroque suburban villa full of art
works in the middle of endless gardens,
he had extraordinary good fortune.
Of historical interest
An oasis of merriment and relaxation,
surrounded by picturesque vineyards
and a sparkling river, it was not
intended as a permanent residence
but for festivities. The main theme
of the chateau’s beautiful painted
decorations was an ode to the power
and glory of the Habsburg dynasty,
and the count had hopes of playing host
to Emperor Leopold I and his hunting
party here. Soon after the building began,
however, the sovereign permanently
abandoned Prague. It was not until
23 years later that the count was able
to at least welcome Leopold’s son,
Emperor Joseph I.
The story of the chateau’s
construction is told by the exhibition
“Eternal Summer in a Roman Villa”.
It is complemented by a unique
selection of historical images of dogs,
horses and other animals from
the collections of noble residences
and the City Gallery Prague.
IV–X Tuesday–Sunday.
www.prague.eu
U Trojského zámku 1
170 00 Praha 7
Prague –
Vyšehrad
Reason to visit
The rock above the Vltava River
crowned by a pair of slender church
towers is shrouded in ancient legends
and is infused with the genius loci
of the destiny of the Czech nation.
Away from the crowds of tourists
flooding the old quarters in the heart
of Prague, Vyšehrad provides
an uncommon view of the magnificent
city and a quiet respite in a graceful park.
Of historical interest
Vyšehrad is the oldest Czech royal
seat, the residence of the first
crowned Bohemian king, Vratislav I.
It is inseparably connected with
the Přemyslid dynasty and the origins
of the Czech nation in the 11th century
– and reaches back even further
in ancient legends. The main monuments
at Vyšehrad (the Neo-Gothic Church
of Sts. Peter and Paul and the Baroque
casemates) are much newer. Of the
many Czech legends, which have been
rendered artistically numerous times,
the most popular is about the mythical
horse Šemík, who saved his rider from
execution by jumping over the ramparts
and across the river. Another is about
Princess Libuše, the mythical seer, who
chose to establish a ruling dynasty with
the ploughman Přemysl and is said
to have prophesied Prague’s undying
fame and stellar future at this site.
An unguided walk through
Vyšehrad with a stop at notable sights
and lookout points is complemented
by a visit to the Art Nouveau interiors
of the church, a tour of the graves
of major Czech personalities
in the Vyšehrad cemetery, or entry
to the casemates and the huge
underground hall Gorlice, which
contains original statues from
the Charles Bridge.
I–XII daily.
www.praha-vysehrad.cz
V Pevnosti 159/5b
120 00 Praha 2-Vyšehrad
72 Castles and chateaux 73
Rabí
Reason to visit
Nearly 3 kilometres of ramparts
and walls encircle the largest Czech
castle ruin, which boasted one of the
most sophisticated defence systems
in Europe in its time. The attractive
medieval environment is beloved by
filmmakers shooting fairy tales and
historical narratives. It was here in 1967
that the director František Vláčil filmed
the famous Czech art film Markéta
Lazarová.
Of historical interest
The most famous event in the extremely
rich history of the castle was the siege
by Hussite troops in 1421. The legendary
military commander and folk hero
Jan Žižka lost his one healthy eye here,
apparently with an arrow shot by one
of the defenders of the castle. This scene
was once carved on the castle gate,
but local residents dismantled the stone
from the deteriorating castle, which was
abandoned in the 18th century, to use
as building material.
What was the story with Žižka’s
eye? What kind of view does the castle
tower offer? Is the well in the courtyard
really bottomless? You will learn
the answers to these questions
and more on two guided tours.
V–IX Tuesday–Sunday,
IV and X weekends
and public holidays.
www.hrad-rabi.eu
Státní hrad Rabí
342 01 Sušice
Ratibořice
Reason to visit
The educated, independent and attractive
Katharina Wilhelmine, Duchess
of Sagan (in Czech Kateřina Zaháňská),
with her charm and wit was for years
a darling of Europe’s highest social
circles, enchanting prominent men
of the early 19th century, from
the Russian czar to the Austrian
chancellor Metternich. She travelled
throughout Europe and was in her
element at the Viennese court,
but she considered her real home
to be her summer residence
in the beautiful countryside of East
Bohemia.
Of historical interest
The Hall of the Three Emperors
is a reminder that in 1813 the duchess’
elegant mansion was the site of secret
meetings among Austria, Russia
and Prussia to form a coalition against
Napoleon, which contributed
to the French leader’s downfall
and the realignment of Europe.
A tour through the salons
of the chateau vies successfully with
a walk through its park and adjacent
“Grandmother’sValley”, where
everything is connected with
the famous Czech novel Grandmother
by the popular 19th-century writer
Božena Němcová.
V, VI and IX Tuesday–Sunday,
VII and VIII daily,
IV and X weekends and public
holidays.
www.zamek-ratiborice.cz
Státní zámek Ratibořice
552 03 Česká Skalice
74 Castles and chateaux 75
Rožmberk
Reason to visit
The best view of the monumental
medieval castle and romantic landscape
of South Bohemia opens up before
you from the English Tower. However,
it requires a climb of almost 200 steps.
Of historical interest
This castle from the mid-13th century
is one of the oldest castles belonging
to the Vítkovci, the predecessors
of one of the most important Czech noble
families – the Rožmberks (Rosenbergs),
to whom the king used to give the most
powerful offices in the land. Despite
the plethora of educated and enterprising
family members, probably the most
popular figure is Perchta of Rožmberk,
who after her death, according
to legend, began appearing in the
ancestral residences as
a mournful ghost.
A portrait of the famous White
Lady is the highlight of the Rožmberk
Hall on the first tour circuit, which
takes visitors back to the time
of the last Rožmberks, Vilém and Petr
Vok. The Buquoy family, which owned
the castle from 1620 until the end of
the Second World War, is presented
mainly on a second tour circuit of the
private family rooms on the castle’s
second floor.
I–XII Tuesday–Sunday
and public holidays.
A summer tradition is costumed
evening tours, when historical figures
guide visitors through the castle
(VII–VIII).
www.hrad-rozmberk.eu
Státní hrad Rožmberk
382 18 Rožmberk nad Vltavou
Slavkov
(Austerlitz)
Reason to visit
This monumental Baroque chateau
is famous for its connection to the
battle of Slavkov (Austerlitz), which
was fought in 1805 between the French
Army and the allied armies of Russia
and Austria. After his victory, Emperor
Napoleon stayed overnight at this
chateau several times and began
peace talks here.
Of historical interest
The chateau enjoyed the peak
of its fame in the second half of the
18th century under Wenzel Anton,
Prince of Kaunitz-Rietberg, a member
of the old Moravian family which had
owned the estate for four centuries.
The prince moved in the highest
imperial circles and helped to form
policy for the Habsburg monarchy,
frequently welcoming Empress
Maria Theresa to his magnificent home.
He was a lover of art and books,
and, despite censorship, he ordered
the latest “subversive” books
on the Enlightenment and new
revolutionary currents directly
from France.
Tip: Every year in early December
a re-enactmentofthebattle
in which Napoleon Bonaparte
defeated the numerically
superior allied army led by
the Austrian emperor
and the Russian czar takes place
on the Slavkov battlefield.
You can organize a visit
to this site, with the notable
Art Nouveau memorial called
theCairnofPeace, with the chateau
administration, or you can visit on your
own at any time of year.
Rooms with rich artistic decoration
and a uniquegalleryofBaroque
paintings present an Italian concept
of aristocratic life. In the main oval hall,
European history was written: After the
famous Battle of the Three Emperors,
the armistice between France and
Austria was concluded right in this
room. The key moments of the historic
event are recapitulated by a virtual
Battle of Slavkov, which is presented
in the form of a projection.
IV–XI Tuesday–Sunday,
VI–VIII daily.
www.zamek-slavkov.cz
Palackého náměstí 1
684 01 Slavkov u Brna
76 Castles and chateaux 77
Sychrov
Reason to visit
The spirit of the French countryside
infuses not just this chateau, which
is a fine example of 19th-century
historicizing architecture, but also
the surrounding landscape, which has
been transformed into a work of art
in its own right. The reconstruction
work that gave the chateau its fabulous
Neo-Gothic form was performed
exclusively by local artists and artisans,
notably by the ingenious woodcarver
Petr Bušek, who imprinted the chateau
interiors with high artistic value
and an unforgettable atmosphere.
Of historical interest
The estate, after its seizure from Czech
aristocrats, was acquired by a French
knightly family for service to the Austrian
emperor in the Thirty Years’ War.
Its heyday was in the 19th century,
when the Breton princes of Rohan took
refuge here. As first cousins of the French
kings of the Bourbon dynasty, they fled
to Sychrov after the French Revolution,
and they liked North Bohemia so much
that they stayed here, even though they
were later invited to return to their
homeland.
Besides a tour of the aristocratic
rooms with unrivalled carved
decoration and a portrait gallery
of the Rohan family, which survived
the French Revolution hidden in the
attic of a Parisian palace, you can also
see numerous interesting details
and secluded corners of the rambling
chateau, including the pink bathroom
of one of the Rohan princesses.
I–XII daily.
www.zamek-sychrov.cz
Státní zámek Sychrov
463 44 Sychrov
Špilberk (Brno)
Reason to visit
Over the centuries, this stone castle
high above the city has caused feelings
of both security and fear in Brno
residents. This once-important seat
of Czech kings and Moravian margraves
gradually grew into a huge Baroque
military fortress with the harshest
prison in the Austrian monarchy – the
notorious “prison of nations”. Later
it was used as army barracks. Today
it is the seat of the Brno City Museum
and is one of the most important
venues in Brno for exhibitions, theatre
performances, concerts, and historical
and sporting events.
Of historical interest
The prison has been part of the fortress
since the Thirty Years’ War. Its cells
have seen the most hardened criminals
and military and political prisoners
of all regimes, including Hungarian
Jacobins, Italian patriots and Polish
revolutionaries from the Kraków
Uprising in 1846. During the Second
World War it was a transfer point to
other prisons or concentration camps.
In addition to a tour of the
casemates, inside the castle you can
visit several permanent exhibitions
and temporary exhibitions from
the Brno City Museum’s collections.
Theobservationgallery of the corner
tower offers a singular view of Brno
and its surroundings.
IV–IX daily, X–III Tuesday–Sunday.
Summer Shakespeare Festival
(VII–VIII), Špilberk Philharmonia Brno
Festival (VIII), fencing festival (IX).
www.spilberk.cz
Špilberk 1
662 24 Brno-střed
78 Castles and chateaux 79
Šternberk
Reason to visit
This sprawling castle with rich decorations
in a range of styles, from Gothic
to Art Deco, is a textbook example of
one approach to restoring old historical
monuments in the Romantic spirit of the
19th century. The luxurious furnishings
were largely brought here from
inaccessible chateaux in North Moravia.
Of historical interest
The history of the Šternberk (Sternberg)
family seat is intertwined with troubled
periods in Czech history, especially wars,
during which the castle and the town
below it suffered greatly. For a long time
it lay in ruins. It was only in the late 19th
century that the owners decided to perform
a general reconstruction. The upgrades
included the installation of running water,
hot-air heating, bathrooms and a private lift.
Tip: In the entry building,theMuseum
ofClocks displays 500 timepieces
dating from the 2nd millennium BC
to the present day, from sundials and
hourglasses to mechanical clocks and
pocket watches.
At the heart of the two tour routes
are the collections of the last owners,
the Liechtensteins.
V–IX Tuesday–Sunday,
IV Wednesday–Sunday, III and X
weekends and public holidays.
www.hrad-sternberk.cz
Horní náměstí 6, 785 01 Šternberk
Švihov
Reason to visit
This magnificent water castle was
built by the rich and power-drunk Půta
Švihovský of Rýzmberk. Tales are still
told about his pride and cruel treatment
of serfs and craftsmen, for which,
legend has it, the devil took him to hell.
To this day, there is a strange hole in the
vaulting of his bedroom which defies all
attempts to repair it.
Of historical interest
The perfectly protected medieval fortress
had sophisticated technical equipment
that could flood the surrounding area with
water at a moment’s notice (including the
castle’s inner courtyard) and then drain it
before the building sustained any damage.
It is considered to be the last real castle
built in the Czech lands – after Švihov,
only chateaux were built.
A tour of the rooms where nobility
lived and enjoyed themselves and also
the part of the castle where the staff
toiled provides a tangible picture
of life here in the 16th century.
V–IX Tuesday–Sunday,
IV and X weekends and public
holidays.
What do dragons look like?
You can learn all about dragons
and how to deal with them in the
summertime exhibition“Dragons”.
www.hradsvihov.cz
Žižkova 1, 340 12 Švihov
80 Castles and chateaux 81
Telč
Reason to visit
The chateau and town square in Telč
are among the most important gems
of the European Renaissance style
outside its birthplace in Italy.
It was there that Zacharias of Hradec,
one of the richest and most powerful
princes of his time, became enthralled
with the new artistic style while
on his diplomatic missions. He invited
the leading Italian builders, craftsmen
and artists to his homeland and gave
them free rein to rebuild his old
ancestral seat. The opulent interiors
are decorated with furniture made of
gilded silver, tapestries, jewels and
precious stones; outside you’ll find
sgraffiti, courtyards linked by arcades,
and a magnificent park with an
orangery surrounded by ponds. It is
all a testament to the influence
of Italian art in the Czech lands.
Of historical interest
The luxurious residence rebuilt
in the second half of the 16th century
from the original Gothic castle lived
on its fame for centuries. The wealth
of one of the most lucrative Moravian
estates dwindled and then passed into
the hands of other noble families.
The Renaissance appearance of the
chateau and the adjacent square,
lined with arcaded townhouses with
pastel-coloured façades, has remained
almost unchanged and thus retains its
original character, which is why it was
inscribed on the UNESCO World
Heritage List. This exceptional
Renaissance treasure nestled between
ponds almost seems like a fairy tale film
set. Indeed, films are often shot here,
and the locals have become proficient
film extras.
A tour of the chateau’s rooms is
almost like a textbook of Renaissance
art techniques. You’ll see painted
coffered ceilings, wood carvings
and curious hunting trophies. A true
gem is the huge Golden Hall, named
for the gilded coffered ceiling with
scenes from ancient mythology.
A tour of the private salons of the
last owners of the chateau, the
Podstatzky-Liechtensteins, includes
the count’s bathrooms and a dressing
room with a collection of historical
clothing and accessories.
IV–X Tuesday–Sunday.
www.zamek-telc.cz
Náměstí Zachariáše z Hradce 1
588 56 Telč
82 Castles and chateaux 83
Točník
and Žebrák
Reason to visit
The ruins of two closely neighbouring
medieval castles – the best-preserved
pair of castles in the Czech Republic
– are the dominant feature of the deep
forests of the Křivoklátsko region.
Of historical interest
The older castle, Žebrák, was used
from the 13th century by Czech nobles
and kings. Emperor Charles IV stopped
here frequently on his journeys out
into the world. A lot of time was also
spent here by his successor, Václav IV,
an avid hunter who brought his large
hunting parties here. After a devastating
fire, he had the castle Točník built on
a neighbouring hill. For its time, the
comfortable new castle with two
palaces represented unprecedented
luxury, reflecting the status of a king
who reigned over ten countries.
This is recalled by the entrance gate with
their coats of arms, including a favourite
symbol of Václav IV – a kingfisher
in a twisted veil.
Unguided tours are very frequently
enhanced by variouscelebrations,
medieval markets, music festivals
and fencing duels.
Točník: IV–IX Tuesday–Sunday,
III and X weekends and public holidays;
Žebrák: VII and VIII Tuesday-Sunday,
IV–VI and IX weekends and public
holidays.
www.tocnik.com
Hrady Točník a Žebrák
267 51 Zdice
Trosky
Reason to visit
The two towers of this ruined Gothic
castle (trosky means “ruins”) are
called Bába and Panna (Granny and
Maiden), and they stand against the
horizon as the symbol of the region
known as Bohemian Paradise. In
turn, they offer stunning views of this
spectacular landscape. After the Thirty
Years’ War, the abandoned castle
gradually crumbled into picturesque
ruins, which to this day are loved by
poets, painters, photographers and all
romantics at heart.
Of historical interest
Building the castle on two steep
volcanic peaks made it an impregnable
fortress, which remained unconquerable
even during the wild Hussite Wars. As
extra insurance, under the castle there
are said to be vast cellars and escape
routes in the surrounding maze
of sandstone rocks and underground
caves. This was once used by 200 robber
barons, who had taken the castle with
their cunning, to deflect a large number
of land troops, even though they were
greatly outnumbered.
On an independent tour, you can
admire not only the distant views
from the top of the tower Bába,
but also the restoration work which
is uncovering the sophisticated
technical design of the castle.
V–IX Tuesday–Sunday, VII–VIII
daily, IV and X weekends and public
holidays.
www.hrad-trosky.eu
Státní hrad Trosky
512 63 Rovensko pod Troskami
84 Castles and chateaux 85
Třeboň
Reason to visit
Not even 30 alchemists led
by the famous Dr. John Dee
and Edward Kelley, who were invited
to Třeboň by Vilém of Rožmberk,
could create a potion that would
guarantee him offspring. He died
childless, and his enormous estate,
as well as his debts, were inherited
by his younger brother Petr Vok.
Vok gradually sold off some of the
ancestral residences, then he and his
entire court relocated to the chateau
in Třeboň, which he had rebuilt
in the Renaissance style for his
comfort and also as a place to house
a unique archive and collections
which could nearly rival those of
Emperor Rudolf II at Prague Castle.
Of historical interest
Petr Vok, an educated and art-loving
prince who was very charming
and appealing to women, could sire
no children. And so with his death in 1611,
the noble Rožmberk family’s 400-year
journey through Czech history came
to an end. Their presence in South
Bohemia is recalled above all by a large
number of breeding ponds, which
provided a substantial part of their profits
and imprinted the local landscape with
its unique atmosphere.
Tip: In an Englishpark on the banks
of the huge pond called The World
there is an unusual stone tomb
with 26 coffins of members
of the Schwarzenberg family.
Because of its excellent acoustics,
in the past it was used for concerts.
The Renaissance chambers
of the Rožmberk family and the
rooms of courtiers and ladies-inwaiting
give an idea of life in the
noble courts of that time – such
as the art of fine dining and feasting.
Over the summer holidays you can
also visit the stables, a kitchen
that prepared food only for dogs,
and underground casemates,
which later were transformed into
wine cellars. Also possible is a walk
through the beautifully furnished
private apartments of the last
owners, the Schwarzenbergs.
IV–X Tuesday–Sunday.
www.zamek-trebon.eu
Zámek 115
379 01 Třeboň
Valtice
Reason to visit
At the southernmost point of the Czech
Republic, the powerful and wealthy
Liechtenstein family had a 185 km2
area of marshes and swamps around
the Dyje River drained. On this land,
situated between their beautiful chateaux
in Valtice and Lednice, they created
an artificial landscape with ponds full
of water lilies, shaded forests, scented
meadows and flowering parks.
To surprise and delight their guests,
they invited the best Viennese architects
to build a number of marvellous little
buildings here.
Of historical interest
Valtice historically belonged to Austria,
and from the Middle Ages until 1945
it belonged to the Liechtenstein family.
A succession of 13 ruling princes gradually
built an epic residence whose splendour,
furnishings and rich collections could
compete with those of the Viennese
imperial court in the 18th century.
In the summer season,
a tour of the princely chambers
of the Liechtenstein family can
be combined with a visit to nearby
points of interest, such as the hunting
lodge called Rendezvous, a classical
colonnade offering beautiful views,
and the ChapelofSt.Hubert,
the patron saint of hunters, where
masses to give thanks would take
place after aristocratic hunts.
IV–VI and IX–X Tuesday–Sunday,
VII–VIII daily and XI weekends and
public holidays.
www.zamek-valtice.cz
Zámek 1
691 42 Valtice
86 Castles and chateaux 87
Velhartice
Reason to visit
The romantic atmosphere of this ancient
castle with its unusual defence
system is enhanced by the surrounding
wooded hills of one of the most beautiful
valleys in the Šumava region.
Of historical interest
One of the first owners and builders
of the castle, Bušek of Velhartice,
and also his son were favourite
and faithful chamberlains of the King
and Emperor Charles IV. Perhaps every
Czech remembers from school the poem
about the ruler and his friend who often
sat together at a stone table and hoisted
many a wine goblet together.
While it is possible to visit
the original medieval sections
of the castle and the interiors from
the Renaissance era, when aristocratic
living conditions became much more
comfortable and pleasurable, you will
be most impressed on an unguided
tour during which you can explore
the grounds in detail and enjoy
spectacular views of the surrounding
nature reserve and open-air museum
of folk architecture below the castle.
V–IX Tuesday–Sunday,
IV and X weekends and public
holidays.
www.hradvelhartice.cz
Hrad Velhartice
341 42 Kolinec
Velké Březno
Reason to visit
One of the youngest and smallest
Czech chateaux, it was built in the
mid-19th century by Count Chotek as a
place to spend the autumn of his life. In
his youth he travelled throughout Europe
and mingled in the social circles of great
cities, but once he retired from public life
as a leading politician he retreated
to the Czech countryside.
Of historical interest
From the outside the building
is reminiscent of a railway station,
yet it was equipped with all the amenities
of its time for the comfort of the freshly
retired count and his charming wife,
Princess Adelheid, as well as their
numerous guests, including Franz Liszt.
Inside the chateau you can
explore the mysteries of aristocratic
living in detail, including his and hers
bedrooms. Surprising is the number
of accoutrements for daily hygiene,
showing that good grooming was just
as important and time-consuming for
men as it was for women.
V–IX Tuesday–Sunday,
IV and X weekends and public
holidays.
www.zamek-vbrezno.cz
403 23 Velké Březno
88 Castles and chateaux 89
Velké Losiny
Reason to visit
One of the most beautiful arcaded
Renaissance chateaux north of the
Alps, in the late 17th century it became
infamous as the scene of witch trials.
The cruel inquisitor used trumped-up
accusations to have more than
50 innocent women and men – mostly
wealthy burghers whose property
was the real reason for their persecution
– tortured and burned alive at the stake.
Of historical interest
For more than three centuries,
the chateau was owned by the Žerotíns,
one of the richest families in Moravia.
The original small water fortress could
not meet their high standards,
and therefore they had it rebuilt
on a grand scale in the 16th century.
Although visitors’ interest
is most riveted by the HallofJustice,
the tragic site of the interrogations
of those accused of witchcraft,
the most valuable room in the
chateau is the austereKnights’Hall,
with walls decorated in leather
and a towering Renaissance stove
made of colourful tiles. The chateau
also has an important collection
of artworks, weapons, and a
wonderful group of tapestries –
the second largest in Moravia.
V–IX Tuesday–Sunday,
IV and X weekends and public holidays.
www.zamek-losiny.cz
788 15 Velké Losiny 268
Vizovice
Reason to visit
One of the most beautiful chateaux
of the Late Baroque period in Moravia,
it stands in the centre of the town
at the foot of the Vizovické Highlands
in Wallachia (Valašsko) – a region
of distinctive folk traditions and whose
local specialty is the plum distillate
called slivovice. You can learn about
its illustrious four-century tradition
at a small museum inside the chateau.
Of historical interest
The insolvent manor, destroyed
by Turkish raids, was bought
at auction in the mid-18th century
by the 30-year-old Count Heřman
Hannibal of Blümegen, who later became
a bishop. He had it levelled to the ground
and built here a grand, ultramodern
residence in the French style.
It is preserved in its unaltered form,
including the original stone and parquet
floors, frescoes, and doors and windows
with Baroque metal fittings, locks
and shutters.
Two tour routes present
the reception areas of the chateau
including the chapel and also
the private rooms for family members,
guests and servants.
V–IX Tuesday–Sunday,
IV and X weekends and public
holidays.
www.zamek-vizovice.cz
Náměstí Palackého 376
763 12 Vizovice
90 Castles and chateaux 91
Vranov nad Dyjí
Reason to visit
This sumptuous chateau built on
a promontory in the picturesque valley
of the Dyje River was one of the most
renowned noble residences
of the Baroque era. The main reason
for its fame was its charming owner,
Maria Anna, Marchioness of Pignatelli,
whom Count Althann – a favourite
of Emperor Charles VI – brought home
to his family residence from Spain.
It was an open secret that the real reason
for the monarch’s frequent visits
from nearby Vienna was the vivacious
and intelligent lady of the manor.
Of historical interest
The present appearance of the residence
was imprinted on the castle – which had
been devastated by a fire in 1665
– by the counts of Althann in the late
17th century. They called upon one
of the greatest figures of the Central
European Baroque – the Viennese court
architect Fischer von Erlach. Throughout
the 19th century the chateau was
in the hands of the noble Polish family
Mniszek, which led the renowned Vranov
stoneware factory to prosperity.
The richly furnished interiors
reflect the refined culture
of aristocratic life at the chateau.
The monumental ovalancestralhall
of the Althann family from the late
17th century is a gem of the builder’s
art in Europe. Thechapel is the work
of the same architect.
V–IX Tuesday–Sunday,
IV and X weekends and public holidays.
www.zamek-vranov.cz
Zámecká 93
671 03 Vranov nad Dyjí
Zákupy
Reason to visit
Ferdinand I of Austria, the last crowned
king of Bohemia (as Ferdinand V), liked
to stay at this chateau after he abdicated
the Austro-Hungarian throne in 1848.
He virtually never reigned alone and
was regarded as a kind-hearted but
intellectually deficient scion of a closely
related coalition of European aristocrats
(he was derisively called “der arme
Trottel Nandel” – the poor idiot Nandel).
Against all odds he lived to a ripe old age,
and he took good care of his summer
residence, which had been thoroughly
modified for him.
Of historical interest
After the fall of Napoleon, Zákupy was
designated in 1815 as a refuge for the
general’s son, widely known as “the
Eaglet”, from the emperor’s marriage
with Marie Louise of Austria, daughter
of Emperor Franz I. The young duke died
of tuberculosis without ever having seen
his new residence.
The interiors of the chateau
were gloriously adapted for the retired
emperor in the fashionable style
of the RococoRevival. For his
maximum comfort, a Baroquelift
was restored, whose technical
equipment is part of the tour.
V–IX Tuesday–Sunday,
IV and X weekends and public
holidays.
www.zamek-zakupy.cz
Borská 1
471 23 Zákupy
92 Castles and chateaux 93
Zvíkov
Reason to visit
The core of the fortifications of this
royal castle is a massive residential
tower with a highly unusual structure.
The tower’s 3-metre-thick walls made
of blocks of black stone were reinforced
with a sharp edge to repel projectiles,
which slid down without doing any
serious damage to the masonry. The
castle was never conquered, not even
in medieval times or during the Thirty
Years’ War. Some claim that this is due
to mysterious protective symbols carved
in the bottom 11 rows of the tower’s stone
blocks. Although they do resemble runes,
historians view them as the marks
of the stonemasons who worked on the
royal buildings. But who knows for sure?
Of historical interest
A seat of the first Czech kings,
situated along a strategic trade route at
the confluence of the Vltava and Otava
rivers, it often changed owners. Its
greatest fame came in the 14th century,
during the reign of the beloved Bohemian
King Charles IV. He had it thoroughly
repaired and liked to stay here, even
keeping the Crown Jewels here until
Karlštejn Castle was built. A full stop
to its ancient history came in the 20th
century, when a dam was built that
engulfed the high rock and the fortified
settlement below the castle.
An unguided tour of the castle
courtyards, terraces, cellars
and the royal palace allows you
to soak up its romantic atmosphere.
The most beautiful place is thechapel,
built in the 13th century to celebrate
the greatness and power of Ottokar II,
called the “Iron and Golden King”.
Royal Palace: V–IX Tuesday–
Sunday, IV and X weekends and public
holidays.
www.hrad-zvikov.eu
397 01 Písek
Žďár
nad Sázavou
Reason to visit
One of the most resplendent ecclesiastical
residences of the early
18th century, it was designed
by the enlightened and art-loving
abbot Václav Vejmluva together with
the ingenious architect Jan SantiniAichel.
The monastery’s stables
and other outbuildings are just
as magnificent as the halls of the
prelature, the mystical pilgrimage
Church of St. John of Nepomuk
at Zelená hora (meaning Green
Mountain), and the cemetery with
a ground plan in the shape of a skull
– all gems of the original artistic style
known as the Baroque Gothic.
Of historical interest
In the beginning, a group of Cistercian
monks built a log cabin in the wild
forest near the Sázava River in the
13th century, little by little constructing
a modest monastery with their own
hands. Five centuries later, its extensive
Baroque reconstruction was one
of the most expensive building projects
of its time. The triumphant completion
of the 30-year building effort was
celebrated in 1735. Just two years
later the monastery burned down,
and Vejmluva died the following year.
At the end of the 18th century,
Emperor Joseph II closed
the monastery, and its use became
residential and agricultural.
The energetic owners
of the chateau, members of the old
aristocratic family Kinský,
have opened the former monastery
and its outbuildings to the public.
You can explore the most beautiful
interiors, which contain a number
of permanent exhibitions, including
one on the development of books,
printing and book culture;
one of Baroque art from the
collectionsoftheNationalGallery; the
Kinský Gallery; one featuring historical
pianos; an exhibition on the life of the
architect Santini-Aichel; and a museum
of the local fire brigade.
VII–VIII daily, IX–III Tuesday–
Sunday.
www.zamekzdar.cz
Zámek 11
591 02 Žďár nad Sázavou 2
94 Castles and chateaux
Žleby
Reason to visit
In the 19th century, the romantic
and somewhat eccentric Vincent Karel
Auersperg, inspired by the traditions
of old England, transformed his
chateau into a knight’s residence like
something from a novel by Sir Walter
Scott.
Of historical interest
The Neo-Gothic reconstruction
was designed in the very spirit of the
saying “My home is my castle”.
The count searched throughout Europe
for sumptuous antiques, from furniture
and paintings to rugs, dishes, glassware
and historical weapons, not neglecting
the tiniest detail. However, for the dayto-day
operation of his “medieval” home
– where he liked to dress in knight’s
armour – he did not hesitate to use the
most modern amenities.
Tip: The chateaupark links to a unique
game preserve where white deer
are bred.
Two tour circuits present
the luxurious living chambers,
the chateautheatre, thelookout
tower, and thechateauarmoury,
with one of the largest collections
ofweapons in Europe, including a
complete set of knight’s armour on
horseback. You will gain interesting
insights into the daily operation of the
household from the technically wellappointed
kitchen to the ingeniously
designed sanitary facilities, and you
will also visit the labyrinthine old castle
cellars.
V–IX Tuesday–Sunday,
IV and X weekends and public holidays.
www.zamek-zleby.cz
Zámecká 1
285 61 Žleby
I would like
[khod:skee ko:lahtch]
Hard to pronounce,
even harder to resist
The Czech language is well known for twisting tongues, but
your linguistic efforts will be richly rewarded with tempting
Czech specialties that will tickle your taste buds. You can
sample the most delicious dishes our country has to offer
in restaurants with the Czech Specials designation.
www.czechspecials.cz
Chodsko-style pastry
96 Castles and chateaux
Index
Bečov nad Teplou ...................................... 2
Bezděz ........................................................ 3
Bítov............................................................ 4
Blatná ......................................................... 5
Boskovice ................................................... 6
Bouzov ........................................................ 7
Buchlov....................................................... 8
Buchlovice .................................................. 9
Častolovice................................................ 10
Červená Lhota ........................................... 11
Český Krumlov ......................................... 12
Český Šternberk ....................................... 14
Cheb.......................................................... 15
Dětenice.................................................... 16
Dobříš ....................................................... 17
Duchcov.................................................... 18
Frýdlant .................................................... 19
Hluboká nad Vltavou............................... 20
Horšovský Týn ......................................... 21
Hořovice ................................................... 22
Hradec nad Moravicí ............................... 23
Hrádek u Nechanic .................................. 24
Hukvaldy .................................................. 25
Jaroměřice nad Rokytnou ....................... 26
Javorník – Jánský Vrch........................... 27
Jindřichův Hradec ................................... 28
Kačina ...................................................... 29
Kámen ...................................................... 30
Karlova Koruna........................................ 31
Karlštejn ................................................... 32
Kašperk .................................................... 33
Klášterec nad Ohří ................................... 34
Kokořín..................................................... 35
Konopiště ................................................. 36
Kost........................................................... 37
Krásný Dvůr ............................................. 38
Kratochvíle ............................................... 39
Kroměříž .................................................. 40
Křivoklát................................................... 41
Kuks.......................................................... 42
Kunětická hora......................................... 43
Kunín........................................................ 44
Kynžvart ................................................... 45
Landštejn ................................................. 46
Lednice ..................................................... 47
Lipnice nad Sázavou ................................ 50
Litomyšl.................................................... 51
Loket......................................................... 52
Manětín .................................................... 53
Mělník ...................................................... 54
Mikulov .................................................... 55
Milotice .................................................... 56
Mnichovo Hradiště .................................. 57
Náchod ..................................................... 58
Náměšť na Hané ...................................... 59
Náměšť nad Oslavou................................ 60
Nelahozeves.............................................. 61
Nové Město nad Metují ........................... 62
Olomouc ................................................... 63
Opočno ..................................................... 64
Orlík.......................................................... 65
Pernštejn .................................................. 66
Ploskovice................................................. 67
Prague – Prague Castle............................ 68
Prague – Troja Chateau........................... 70
Prague – Vyšehrad................................... 71
Rabí .......................................................... 72
Ratibořice ................................................. 73
Rožmberk ................................................. 74
Slavkov (Austerlitz).................................. 75
Sychrov ..................................................... 76
Špilberk (Brno)......................................... 77
Šternberk.................................................. 78
Švihov ....................................................... 79
Telč ........................................................... 80
Točník and Žebrák ................................... 82
Trosky....................................................... 83
Třeboň ...................................................... 84
Valtice....................................................... 85
Velhartice ................................................. 86
Velké Březno ............................................ 87
Velké Losiny ............................................ 88
Vizovice .................................................... 89
Vranov nad Dyjí ....................................... 90
Zákupy...................................................... 91
Zvíkov ....................................................... 92
Žďár nad Sázavou .................................... 93
Žleby ......................................................... 94
Published by: CzechTourism, Prague 2017 ©
Vinohradská 46, 120 41 Praha 2
newyork@czechtourism.com, london@czechtourism.com
Written by: Titanic Publishing
Translation: Mimi Fronczak Rogers
Photo on the cover page: Zvíkov, photo by Libor Sváček
Photographs: © Ladislav Renner, Jirí Strašek, Libor Sváček, Martin Mařák, Aleš
Motejl, Michal Vitásek, Dagmar Veselková, CzechTourism
Production: Vydavatelství MCU, www.mcumedia.cz
2015, 3rd edition (Reprint 2017)
The data given cannot be guaranteed in spite of meticulous research.
Not for sale.
ISBN: 978-80-7513-076-1
The official tourist presentation of the Czech Republic
www.czechtourism.com
Slovakia
Germany
Germany
Austria
Poland
100 km0 5025 75
Ústí nad
Labem
Praha
Liberec
Karlovy
Vary
Plzeň
České
Budějovice
Olomouc
Zlín
Ostrava
Brno
Jihlava
Pardubice
Hradec
Králové
15
45
2
34
38
41
32
22
17
5
21
39
20
12
28
36
14
30
29
6
47
8 9
40
2742
19
37
43
31
18
10
16
24
3
35
7
23
44
25
26
46
11
4
53
86
33
79
52
82
77
55
85
75
56
89
59
63
58
64
57
67
71
61
91
62
87
70
54
68
88
78
90
65
92
72
74
80
76
83
94
50
93
66
73
60
84
51
www.czechtourism.com
Olomouc
by train from Prague in 2 hrs 5 min.
In Pursuit of
Baroque Gems
by Train
Take a train ride and discover the most
beautiful Baroque sites in the Czech
Republic.