Castles and Châteaux in
The Czech Republic is a land of medieval châteaux and castles replete with history. These stunning structures came about courtesy the royals and the rich of the era. While châteaux were just grand residences, the castles played their part in providing fortification against the enemy. This post promises to take you on a guided tour of some of the grandest ones here and these are sprinkled all across the country (click map below).
In this post, the write-ups and images have been provided by some of the most seasoned global travellers I know. Their insights into the history and heritage of these structures are laced with their own experiences and tips that will inspire wanderlust in you and will assist you in making the best of your visit there.
For many of us from other parts of the world, some of the names of these castles and châteaux can be real tongue twisters. So, to aid navigation, I have stacked them up alphabetically in this post.
Table of Contents
- Bouzov Castle
- Buchlovice Château
- Cervena Lhota
- Český Krumlov
- Hrad Kunětická Hora
- Hradec Nad Moravici
- Jezeří Castle
- Karlštejn Castle
- Kratochvíle Castle
- Křivoklát Castle
- Kroměříž Castle
- Lednice and Valtice Châteaux
- Loket Castle
- Mělník Château
- Nové Hrady Château
- Potštejn Castle
- Zvíkov Castle
But, before you embark on the whirlwind journey of the 17 castles and chateaux presented in this post, you may want to get an overview of what to expect.
The 6-minute video below should help.
1. Bouzov Castle
Rose Palmer – Quiltripping
Rose is a life long experiential learner. She needs the challenge of learning something new and she experiences that through travel, photography and quilting. She loves the excitement of traveling to new places. She designs and makes quilts inspired by her travels.
Sitting a short 30-minute drive from the town of Olomouc in the Central Moravian region, Bouzov Castle sits high atop a hill, keeping watch over the surrounding fields and pastures. The original castle was built at the turn of the 14th century to protect the local trade route. At the end of the 17thcentury, the castle became the property of the Order of Teutonic Knights who owned it till the Nazis in WWII confiscated it.
The castle design is a blend of 600 years of architectural styles, though much of its current appearance is a reinvention in the Romantic style from the turn of the 20th century. So let your inner Cinderella come out as you tour a castle that looks like it came straight out of a fairy tale picture book. And if it feels like you are walking through a setting in movie, you would not be far off the mark. Bouzov Castle has been used as a film backdrop for over 30 movies and fairy tale films.
Bouzov Castle is one of the most visited castles in the Czech Republic, so try to visit early in the day when you go. The castle opens at 8:45 AM and is open till 6 PM in July and August (closing times are earlier the rest of the year). There are a number of tour options to choose from depending on your interests, though the 60-minute Bouzov Castle Extensive Tour is the longest and most comprehensive. Visit their official site for up to date information.
2. Buchlovice Château
Tomas Novak – E & T Abroad
Tomas & Eva are photographers, travellers, and bloggers from Prague. They have already visited more than 50 countries. They like to highlight the ease of travel and they want to inspire people to travel.
Buchlovice Château is big villa baroque style in Zlín Region not far away from the Slovakian border. It was built at the beginning of 18th century when the nearby Buchlov castle/fortress was already uncomfortable for the nobility.
Today the castle belongs to the most important Baroque noble settlements in the Czech Republic. Visitors can admire the quality of architecture, extensive collections, learn about the famous ex-owners, and find out how important this château was in the history of the last years of the Habsburg monarchy.
Buchlovice Château also includes a garden and a park, forming an inseparable part of the representative architecture of the noble mansion. Now the park has a total area of nearly 19 hectares, and there is also a small zoo with plenty of domestic and exotic animals.
How to get to Buchlovice? You can take a regular bus from Zlín or Brno (takes about 1 hour) or from Uherské Hradište (takes about 15 minutes).
3. Cervena Lhota
Lena Tarasyuk – Travel Monkey
Lena Tarasyuk was born and raised in post-soviet Ukraine. Being obsessed with geography from high school, she dreamt about seeing those rivers and mountains and cities for real and cruising through life she found out that dreams could actually come true!
This cute chateau dating back to 14th century is situated on a rock surrounded by a lake. Apart from the charming setting that backgrounds the castle, one of the most prominent features is its colour – bright red, which is where the name comes from (‘cervena’ translates as red in Czech).
There is a massive stone bridge leading to it, which gathers crowds who are eager to explore the insides of the château. However, the best part is a bit further away from the castle, in the hilly park, which opens up the best views of Cervena Lhota. Get a picnic basket and ease down into the atmosphere enjoying food with the best views this area has to offer.
As a bonus, there are even boats you can rent to enjoy the castle from different angles and turn it into a complete romantic experience.
4. Český Krumlov
Alison Abbott – Green With Renvy
Alison Abbott is a freelance travel and lifestyle writer with a focus on sustainable shades of green living. When not searching out the best of artisans, growers, and locales that make a destination unique, you can find her working as editor of the blog Green With Renvy and a Local Expert with AFAR Media.
Fairytale dreams are made with the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Český Krumlov in mind. Located in the South Bohemia region of the Czech Republic, the complex is the 2nd largest in the country. Twisting alleys and cobbled streets all circle the main draw – the 13th century castle. The castle structure and its adjacent bell tower dominate the old town. Climb to the top of the Gothic tower and you will be rewarded with a panorama of the city and surrounding countryside. The five-petalled rose is the symbol of the town and you’ll notice it throughout the area.
The interior of the castle is accessible only by guided tour. Make sure not to miss the Rococo theatre, one of only a few remaining originals in the world. For theatre and history buffs, seeing the ancient props and machines used for sound effects such as thunder and wind are well worth the price of admission in this uniquely preserved gem. Wander up the hill behind the castle and view the magnificent gardens. This small medieval town is bisected by the Vltava River and largely remains intact because of its relatively peaceful history. There is an excellent viewing area across from the Hotel Ruze (rose) that makes for a great photo opp.
5. Hrad Kunětická Hora, Pardubice
Sonal Paladini – Drifter Planet
Sonal & Sandro are digital nomads and travel addicts. They often slip into an imaginary world, thanks to their fantasy fiction addiction. They love seeing a magical side of the places that they visit, which is reflected in their travel photos and stories.
The name Hrad Kunětická Hora is a lovely medieval castle on top of Kunětická hill in Pardubice, East Bohemia. Because it is built on top of a hill, you can see it from many viewpoints in Pardubice and even from as far as the Podhura recreational forest.
The best time to visit Hrad Kunětická Hora is right before the sunset because this beige castle looks magnificent in the golden light. The best part is this castle complex is not crowded and there is no fee because it is a “public castle”. It is also a venue for occasional musical and theatrical performances.
Check it out!
6. Hradec Nad Moravici
Amy Trumpeter – Temple Seeker
Amy Trumpeter is writer and editor of Temple Seeker. She has a BA in World Religions and an MA in South Asian Studies from Manchester University. Her passion is visiting historical sites and Famous Churches around the world.
Located in the Silesian region between Opava and Ostrava is Hradec Nad Moravici. This charming town has been inhabited since the 8th Century when people started to live in this settlement area. Hradec Nad Moravici is home to a white Renaissance château and a red neo-gothic style 19th Century castle.
The White Château was originally built in the 11th Century to replace the Slavic hill-fort that existed since the 8th Century. Czech King Premysl Otakar II rebuilt it again two centuries later. In 1778, the manor of Hradec was passed on to the Lichnovsky family, who resided there and owned the castle complex for of generations. They were lovers of art and music, and friends with famous artists and musicians including Picasso and Mozart. Beethoven and Liszt also visited the castle.
The neo-gothic fairytale red castle was built for Karl Maria Lichnovsky between 1872 and 1895. During the 19th Century, 60 hectares of landscaped national park also became part of the castle complex. The castle grounds, along with the castle interiors are waiting to be explored. Entrance fee is just 120Kr and you can take a train to Ostrava and reach Hradec Nad Moravici in just a short drive from there.
7. Jezeří Castle
Ciaran Blumenfeld – Supernatural Travel
Ciaran is the co-founder of a marketing data and analytics software company. This means she spends her workdays surrounded by very logical people, measuring the measurable and analyzing the data. But traveling and connecting with people all over the world, is probably her favorite part of her work. History makes her hum. Mysteries make her sizzle. She’s got a soft spot for the odd, the quirky and the unexplainable.She’s a little bit psychic. She has a wild imagination. Sometimes It can be hard to tell the difference.
The castle is perched high on a hill, overlooking what appears to be a post apocalyptic landscape, thanks to decades of coal mining. In the valley below, the land is stripped bare. But this was not always the case, and over the course of the next twenty years, things are going to change, dramatically.
The original Gothic style castle was originally built in the second half of the 14th century. At that time it was referred to as the castle on the lake. Where barren land now sprawls below, there was once a pastoral scene, and a large lake and surrounds that were teeming with wildlife.
Over the centuries the castle changed hands and owners, but remained one of the finest in the country. In the 1700s and 1800s, the Lobkowicz family played host to many notable characters including Goethe, Casanova, Bach, Beethoven, and many, many royals of the era. Imagine the parties that the ghosts of this castle might throw! At that time the castle had three formal dining rooms, a theater that could house a 22-seat orchestra, zoological gardens and game parks and formal gardens with many fountains – all with a spectacular view of the lake.
After the Second World War the castle sadly fell into disrepair. Coal mining nearly destroyed this castle entirely by the 1970s. However it has been undergoing preservation and restoration since 1996. One of the unique features of this castle is that it has been open during this restoration, and possible to observe the changes as they happen. This effort will be even more dramatic and noticeable over the next two decades, as the coal mine will be closing and the land beneath the castle slowly restored and returned to lake, fields and forest.
Now is a great time to visit this gorgeous and unique castle. And return visits to see the transformation over time seem like a must!
8. Karlštejn Castle – The Jewel of Central Bohemia
Ajay Sood – Travelure
Ajay is a travel photographer from India who thrives in making destinations desirable through his images and imagery.
As we made our way up the hill through a quaint street lined with village houses, souvenir shops and grocery stores, Karlštejn Castle slowly rose up above the horizon as sun would in the morning. One tower at a time, it started to reveal itself.
We were in Central Bohemia on a Fam Trip organised by CzechTourism and Central Bohemia Tourism Board. Karlštejn was touted to be Central Bohemia’s jewel. Upon reaching the castle we figured the high praise was not an exaggeration.
Karlštejn Castle has five distinct structures, three of which were built in the fourteenth century. King Charles IV personally supervised its construction. He and his son Wenceslas IV resided here in those days.
Subsequent reconstruction took place in the fifteenth, sixteenth and the nineteenth century. While some parts were initially built in Gothic and some in Renaissance style, the last reconstruction of 19th century gave it a purist look.
The purpose of fortification of Karlštejn was to protect the Bohemian crown jewels, holy relics, and royal archives, as King Charles IV was also the Holy Roman Emperor.
While the interiors are grand and its original stairs arrangement intact, its pièce de résistance is the massive 60-metre-high Great Tower.
Nett-nett, Karlštejn Castle leaves you gaping open-mouthed at its gigantic towers, fortification walls (some of them between 4 and 7.5-metre thick), drawbridges, and its strategic location well-suited to spot the enemy much before they could come anywhere near it. As you walk the outer verandah on the top floor of the great tower, you realise a 3-inch thick wooden floor separates you from safety and hundreds of feet of sheer drop!
There are castles and then there is Karlštejn Castle! Whenever you get to visit Central Bohemia, or Prague (just 30 km away), do take the time out to experience this stunning architectural heritage gem first hand!
9. Kratochvíle Zamek
Rosalind Cuthbertson – Frequent Traveller
Australians, Ros and Alan Cuthbertson were both in their 50’s when they quit their conventional 9 to 5 work style to travel the world full time. For part of the year they are based in the vibrant city of Chiang Mai in Thailand. They regularly travel to nearby Asian countries sourcing content for their travel Blog – Frequent Traveller. When not exploring Asia, they travel the world and have explored many European, North and South America destinations.
Kratochvíle Castle or Zamek Kratochvíle as it is known in Czech, is located just outside the town of Netolice, a 35-kilometre drive from České Budějovice, the capital of South Bohemia.
Walking over the moat and through an ornate clock tower entrance, you are greeted by the painted mural walls of Kratochvíle Castle, a roman villa style chateau which was built in 1589 for Vilem of Rosmberk.
Apple trees bursting with fresh green apples cool the walkways while swans glide peacefully in the inner moat that surrounds the ornamental gardens.
Inside the Château, decorative ceiling murals depicting hunting scenes offset the heavily carved furniture and hunting weapons that adorn the walls.
Bright airy rooms, ornate stucco ceilings, dark furniture and richly coloured drapes create a welcoming atmosphere throughout the castle.
Four poster beds are swathed in drapery for privacy while the bathroom comes complete with a linen draped bath and doubles as a sickroom which contains a collection of gruesome bloodletting instruments.
The dining room is filled with touches of whimsy; a mermaid hangs alluringly from the ceiling illuminating the dining room table while elephants look down from above.
The preparation room is filled with an array of produce such as pheasants, fish and elaborate dishes that look set for a lavish feast.
The most sumptuous room in Kratochvíle Castle is the Golden Hall; just walking into the room is breathtaking.
Light shines in through the windows and enhances the intricate gold pattern of the painted walls making everything gleam. Large banquet tables set with silver platters, glassware, and delicacies fit for a king fill the room.
If you are planning a trip to the Czech Republic, make sure you put Zamek Kratochvíle on your list of places to visit.
10. Křivoklát Castle
Elena Sergeeva – Passion For Hospitality
Passion for Hospitality is a luxury travel blog where Elena shares her experiences around the world. She has a background in Hospitality. She has worked with leading luxury hotel chains in Greece. In 2012 she decided to pursue her passions and became an entrepreneur.
Perched on a hill surrounded by a Bohemian forest, the Křivoklát Castle is one of the oldest and most important castles of Czech Republic. The castle was founded in the 12th century and belonged to the kings of Bohemia. Initially it served as a beautiful royal residence and later as a harsh prison. Over the centuries it was damaged by fire on several occasions. Today visitors can witness the numerous torture rooms inside the castle. Other collections include hunting weapons, Gothic paintings and a library of 52,000 books. The castle is open to the public all year round and there are apartments on the premises where guests can spend an overnight.
11. Kroměříž Archiepiscopal Château and Gardens
Valerie Delzer – Travalerie
Valerie is an independent travel agent and travel blogger with decades of travel experience.
The Kroměříž Castle or Archbishop’s Château as it is more commonly known
The reason why it is called the Archbishop’s Château is because it’s been the Spiritual Axis of Moravia otherwise known as the D.O.M. The D stands for Duchovni=Spiritual, Osa=Axis, and Moravy=Moravia. The Olomouc Archdiocese makes up the other part of this D.O.M with Olomouc being 35km away from Kroměříž, which you can also include in your travel itinerary.
This Castle or Château was founded in 1497 and started out with a Gothic style but by the 1600’s was renovated into a Baroque Romanticism style by the Italian Architect Filiberto Lucchese. By 1777 it had become the seat of the Olomouc Bishops and gave rise to garden art what for them was a philosophical discipline and what we see today as the Flower Garden and Château Garden. The difference between the two is that the Château Garden is directly behind the Château while the Flower Garden is a separate complex across the street encompassing 64 hectares. This Flower Garden is a must see with its unique ornamental geometric patterns much like you would find in the garden patterns of Versailles, France. The Archbishop Château also holds the second most valuable art painting collection in the Czech Republic. The entire compound was listed into the UNESCO world heritage site in 1998. Here is the official link to the Chateau to help you plan your visit.
12. Lednice & Valtice Châteaux – A 2-in-1 Treat
Joel Baldwin – World Heritage Journey
World Heritage Journey is a YouTube channel and blog, where they are attempting to visit all 1100 UNESCO World Heritage sites. As of August 2018, they’ve made it to nearly 370 sites, and produced over 320 episodes on YouTube.
Czech Republic is the land of castles, where at times it feels like almost every small town has a large stone castle looming over it! And here in the towns of Lednice and Valtice in southern Moravia it’s no different – there are two enormous chateau buildings that dominate the area. But there’s a twist here! Although they are 8 kilometres apart, they are actually part of the same massive complex built by the House of Liechtenstein in the 17th and 18th centuries. The castles are connected by an enormous landscaped garden that covers over 200 sq kms, containing several small villages! And of course, these are UNESCO World Heritage site as well.
The Lednice Castle chateau is done in a neo-Gothic
Valtice Castle isn’t quite as grand and ornate in appearance, but it was the principle residence of the Liechtenstein family right up until World War II when they fled the Nazi occupation. It’s got a very pleasing Baroque style to it, and is still very impressive due to its size. As with Lednice, it’s closed during winters but generally open most days between May and September, though check the official site for your exact dates! Prices are 320Kr for English tours, while Czech tours are 180Kr (you can save money by doing a Czech-language tour and following along via the provided info-sheet).
All in all it’s a very impressive site, and makes for a fantastic day out in South Moravia, particularly just wandering around the parklands. Unfortunately public transport to the area isn’t the best, so I’d recommend using a car to visit, or taking a guided tour from nearby Brno, Vienna, or Bratislava.
13. Loket Castle
Carine Lion – The Traveling Lions
Carine is a Belgian. She has been traveling since childhood and has now a 25 years experience in luxury travel. She loves nature, culture and food. Sustainable tourism and ecology matter to her as well.
Situated 2 hours drive from Prague and a short distance from Karlovy Vary, West Bohemia, Loket Castle is a fairytale castle from the early Middle Age.
Standing on a granite rock in a meander of the river Ohře, it was probably strategically built as a frontier fortress in Central Europe.
Formerly inhabited by kings and lords, it was used as a prison in the 19th and 20th century, before returning to Loket Town in 1992 and undergoing an extensive renovation.
Among the interesting things to be seen are the Loket meteorite – viewed by Goethe himself – the very realistic Chamber of Torture, the artistic targets in the Exposition of Arms and the incredible Gothic murals, discovered in the years 1990.
14. Mělník Chateau
Kerwin McKenzie – Unfamiliar Destinations
Kerwin is an ex-airline employee who travels on average over 250,000 miles a year. He writes up-to-date airport, destination and ground transportation guides plus airline flight and hotel reviews with a mission to motivate airline employees to use their travel benefits at www.Passrider.com. He’s flown 173 airlines and visited 123 countries and teaches travelers how to be loyal to travel brands at www.Cruisinaltitude.com. He recently launched a new Web site, www.UnfamiliarDestinations.com.
Mělník Château is located in the Central Bohemia part of Czech Republic. It sits on a hill at the edge of the town at the confluence of the Elbe and the Vltava rivers.
It is actually home to the ancient noble family, the Lobkowicz. One of them actually still lives there on one of the floors.
It is also home to a vineyard and cellars where grapes are still picked and processed today.
The Château is accessible from Prague by train, boat, car,
The town of Mělník itself has its own beauty and history so be sure and check out the town.
There are small local hotels available in the small town or you may stay in neighboring towns.
There are also many restaurants around the town square, so there is no shortage of places to eat. I ate at the Restaurace Na Hradbách, which has both indoor, and outdoor seating and whose entrance is located right on the town square.
Take some time and walk around the town and see the beautiful homes and enjoy the red rooftops and the medieval city walls; talk to the locals as well. A stop in the Tourist Information Center will yield additional information about the underground walkways as well.
15. Nové Hrady Château – The Little Versailles
Jean Cheney – Traveling Honeybird
Jean is one of Australia’s top coffee fuelled adventure travel bloggers. An advocate for travelling no matter how large or small your budget is.
You can’t help but fall in love with the pink building. Surrounded by immaculately manicured gardens, a herd of deer and classic European stables. Yet one thing that many visitors miss, instead deciding to explore the inner workings of the château, is the beautiful gardens beyond the maze. Hidden away in the solitude of the wilderness sits the ruins of the original castle.
Château Nové Hrady may not be the biggest, flashiest or
16. Potštejn Castle
Jennifer Ruiz – Jen On A Jet Plane
Jen Ruiz is a solo female travel blogger and writer who specializes in helping young professionals see the world on a budget.
Castle Potštejn used to be one of the biggest castles in the Czech Republic and is actually rumored to contain hidden treasure. One prior owner, Count Harbuval de Chamare, was so obsessed with uncovering it that he spent years digging up the castle grounds. His hunt was immortalized in a famous book by Czech author Alois Jirásek called “Poklad.”
The treasure was never found, and the grounds never restored to their former glory. Today, Castle Potštejn is open to the public and serves to educate visitors on the story of the Hradec Králové region, with staff hosting re-enactments and wearing costumes from the era. It is also a popular site for weddings and photo shoots due to its prime location overlooking the city and romantic stone and brick architecture. There is a historic chapel on the premises.
Unlike other castles, it’s unlikely that you’ll be battlling the tourist crowds here. There are refreshments and souvenirs available by the main gate, and entrance is closed on Mondays.
To get there, you’ll need to be ready to hike uphill. Those unwilling to make the journey should visit Château Potštejn instead, located at the foot of the village but containing important memorabilia, fully reconstructed rooms and even a ghost story or two.
17. Zvíkov Castle
Teresa Gomez – Brogan Abroad
Teresa is a travel blogger on a mission to explore the world through deeper travel and more meaningful local experiences and inspire people to do the same. Lover of adventure, the outdoors and everything food related.
Zvíkov Castle is often called ‘the king of Czech castles’ because of its dramatic location, perched on a hard to access promontory where the Vltava and the Otava Rivers meet. It was the seat of the first Czech kings and was strategically positioned on an important trade route.
The Hlíza Tower dates back to the 13th century and is the oldest preserved structure within the castle. A lot of the complex has disappeared, swallowed up by the rising of the waters caused by the construction of a dam. However, you can still visit the areas that used to be King’s Room and the Formal Royal Rooms. They are now open terraces that offer spectacular view of the confluence of the rivers and the cliffs on the other side. Despite the room no longer being there, you can clearly see some of the remnants – arches, columns – and imagine what they would have been like.
The interior of the castle has a very well preserved two-storey stone gallery with an open courtyard, which made me think of a monastery cloister
Zvíkov Castle is located about 20 kms from the town of Pisek and is well connected by public transport. And if you are a keen hiker, there is a trail that takes you all the way to the castle from Pisek!
