Medieval castles of the Czech Republic and Slovakia. What is the most famous castle in the Czech Republic? Names and photos of castles in the Czech Republic. How the card works
Although the date of foundation of the baroque Loučeni castle dates back to the twelfth century, it became open to visitors only in 2007. The opening took place on July 7, in order to correlate the three magic sevens "07.07.07". During its existence, the castle has changed many owners, among whom the most eminent was Maximilian Joseph von Taxis.
Louchen Castle gained the greatest popularity thanks to its labyrinths, which are included in the Guinness Book of Records. Their creator was Adrian Fisher - the author of the most intricate labyrinths that have become decorations for more than five hundred parks around the world. The Louchen castle park is also decorated with fountains and centuries-old trees.
Today Louchen Castle is a popular place for weddings.
Brandis Castle
Brandys Castle - a monument of the Renaissance - is located east of Prague on a small hill. It was built in the XIII century and is known as the hunting estate of Emperor Rudolf II, during which science and art survived the Golden Age.
The palace changed several owners, who rebuilt it, changing the style and its image from Gothic to Renaissance, from Baroque to pseudo-Gothic. The sculptor Quadri worked on the bas-relief decoration of the facade.
From the windows of the castle you can see the city of Stara Boleslav, which used to be the residence of King Wenceslas.
The castle presents exhibits of weapons and cavalry uniforms, as well as the most valuable books from the Habsburg library.
Hořovice Castle
Horovice Castle was built in the eighteenth century. The place where this unique monument of Czech architecture rises today has a very rich history. Excavations have shown that already in the tenth century a settlement of people lived here. Subsequently, a Gothic fortress was built here, which existed for several centuries and changed many architectural styles, but was burned to the ground in the seventeenth century. The fortress was rebuilt, after which for a long time it was the residence of officials.
Today, Horovice Castle is a museum - thousands of tourists visit it every year. The castle presents interesting expositions that allow you to get acquainted with the history of three powerful families - the former owners of the castle.
Pruhonice Castle
Pruhonice Castle is located 15 kilometers west of Prague. The medieval Gothic castle of Pruhonice was built in the 13th century and was restored in the Neo-Renaissance style at the end of the 19th century. In front of the castle there is a pond with carps.
Around the castle there is a wonderful park with an area of 73 hectares, which contains over five thousand varieties of trees, shrubs, flowers and other plants. The park is intertwined with many paths, their total length reaches 30 kilometers.
The main influx of tourists falls on the end of spring - the beginning of summer, who come here to see the blooming collections of rhododendrons and azaleas.
Nelahozeves Castle
kilometers from Prague. It was built in 1593 for Florian Grispek. In 1623, Nelahozeves bought the Lobkowitz noble family, which to this day is its owner.
Nelahozeves is not very big compared to other castles in the Czech Republic. The exterior decoration of the temple is decorated with sgraffito. Sometimes this castle is called the "Czech Louvre" because it houses a huge number of paintings.
The art collections of Nelahozeves contain many unique original paintings made by such masters as Rubens, Velasquez, Granach, Brueghel. There are also portraits of artists of the Spanish school. In addition to painting, the castle keeps within its walls manuscripts of musical works by such great composers as Mozart and Beethoven.
Castle Mnisek pod Brdy
The first mention of the Mniszek pod Brdy Castle appears in chronicles dated 1352. The castle towered near an important strategic position - the "golden" trade route between the Czech Republic and Bulgaria. For safety, trade was carried out inside the castle, from which Mnisek pod Brdy Castle can be called the first trading center in the Czech Republic.
The castle of Mniszek pod Brdy is also famous throughout the area for the delicious black beer that was brewed outside its walls from the sixteenth to the seventeenth century. Until 1945, the castle alternately belonged to one or another noble family. Today the castle is the property of the Czech state.
Mniszek pod Brdy Castle is surrounded by a picturesque park with a pond in the center. The castle is a popular wedding venue.
Vysehrad Castle
Vysehrad Castle is undoubtedly one of the most ancient historical monuments of the Czech Republic. The history of its creation dates back to the distant tenth century. He has seen a huge number of rulers, thousands of seasons and is reflected in millions of human eyes.
The fortress, which is located on a hill and is located on the very banks of the Vltava River, towering above it, was once built to protect the city from its southern side. The fortress withstood a lot, time left noticeable traces on it, but it still stands and reminds of its great past.
On the vast territory of Vyshgrad there are many monuments of culture and history, such as the Vyshegrad cemetery, on the territory of which more than 600 figures of national culture are buried.
Emnishte Castle
Fifty kilometers from the capital of the Czech Republic is the delightful Emnishte Castle. Compared to other castles in the Czech Republic, the Emnište castle is still quite young - it was built in the eighteenth century. The original architectural style of the castle was baroque, but shortly after the completion of construction, Emništė suffered misfortune. Already in the middle of the eighteenth century, the castle disappeared in a fire - only Joseph's chapel was saved.
Emnishte Castle was rebuilt. To the baroque style in the new building, notes of the rococo style appeared. The owner of the castle to this day is the Sternberg family, who are happy to cooperate with travel companies, allowing numerous excursions and celebrations to be held in their home.
Brandys Castle nad Labem
Brandys Castle nad Labem is located in the city of the same name. It is about 30 kilometers northeast of Prague. The castle was built 700 years ago, during the Renaissance.
Initially, Brandis Castle served as a hunting village for the imperial family of the Habsburgs. The castle, which has impressive architecture, has a rich history. Its walls have seen many of the greatest rulers of the Czech Republic.
A huge number of couples in love come there to hold unforgettable wedding ceremonies in the castle. The castle itself is open to visitors relatively recently. Sometimes there are guided tours accompanied by dragoon officers. The castle is a popular tourist destination.
Křivoklát Castle
Křivoklát Castle, located 40 kilometers from Prague, is one of the oldest castles in the Czech Republic. Surrounded by forests, in the Middle Ages it served as a hunting castle for rich and noble hunters.
The history of the castle dates back to the 11th century, when the Křivoklát fort arose on this site. Two centuries later, a Gothic castle of the Přemyslids, the rulers of the Czech Republic, appeared in its place. Rich hunting grounds, a large number of game attracted kings and nobles here. This continued until the first fire in the history of the castle. The future emperor Charles IV (Prince Wenceslas) restored Křivoklát, he also added a large tower and an upper courtyard. It is difficult to say how many more times the castle burned after that, but each time it was reborn. Since the 16th century, its premises have been used as a prison for especially important criminals. The English alchemist Edward Kelly was imprisoned here, who was never able to create a philosopher's stone for Emperor Rudolf II.
Despite the fact that the castle was not used as a royal residence, it houses the majestic Great Royal Hall. The royal library, collected in the 18th century, is also kept here. The Knights' Hall displays a collection of weapons and military ammunition. The art gallery contains samples of painting and sculpture of the Middle Ages. The tower is 42 meters high and has an observation deck with a picturesque view of the castle and its surroundings.
Melnik Castle
Melnik Castle stands at the confluence of the two rivers Vltava and Labe. Connecting together, they form the well-known German river Elbe. From the walls of the castle offers a gorgeous view of this natural action. At one time, Melnik Castle was nicknamed the "Castle of the Queens". The fact is that after the death of the rulers, their wives lived out their days in this castle. In the entire history of the castle, there were 23 such widows.
The castle is especially famous for the fact that it was here that Czech winemaking was born more than a thousand years ago. The tasting of the unique wine is still held today, thanks to which Melnik is doomed to a pilgrimage of tourists from all over the world. In addition, everyone can walk through the historical interiors of the castle, enjoy the collection of baroque paintings and listen to amazing stories from Count Lobkowitz himself, the current owner of the castle, who likes to act as a guide.
Karlštejn Castle
On a high cliff above the river Berounka rises the Gothic Karlštejn Castle, which belonged to Charles IV, who went down in history as the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. The beginning of the construction of the castle began in 1348, and ended 17 years later. At the same time, Charles IV settled in it already in 1355. Due to the fact that the emperor was an ardent lover of collecting various relics, Karlstejn, along with the main functions, was also a treasury.
An interesting fact is that Karlštejn Castle was never taken. It was besieged twice by the Hussites (in 1427) and by the Swedes (in 1620), but all attempts were unsuccessful. This did not prevent the transfer of Karlštejn Castle to state ownership in the 20th century, after which its gates were opened for numerous tourists.
Konopiste Castle
Konopiste Castle is the last residence of the heir to the Astro-Hungarian throne, Franz Ferdinand von Habsburg, whose assassination in 1914 launched the First World War.
The Gothic castle was built in the 13th century to provide maximum protection from possible sieges. In the arsenal of the castle there are seven towers, a moat and earthen ramparts. The castle courageously held its first siege in 1467 for 17 months, but was surrendered to the troops of King Jiří of Poděbrady. The second time the castle was defeated in 1648, the year was completely plundered by the Swedish troops. Subsequently, Konopiste changed owners several times, each sought to transform the castle in his own way - this is how Gothic began to turn into Baroque. During the Second World War, the castle was the headquarters of the SS troops.
Shkvorets Castle
Skvorec Castle is located in Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic. It is located 22 kilometers to the east, from the center of Prague. This is a unique architectural monument of national importance, its construction dates back to the 13th century.
In 1279, a fortress was built here, from which today the outer fortress wall and a deep well remain. In the 14th century, a Gothic tower and a drawbridge were built. And in the 18th century, the mistress of the castle, Maria Theresa of Savoy, built here the church of St. Anna, the statues of St. Donatus and St. Prokop, and the castle received the status of a palace. In the XIX century, the castle fell into disrepair, many buildings were demolished.
In 2008, restoration and restoration work began here. Today there is a museum of the Liechtenstein dynasty, who owned the castle for three hundred years, exhibition and concert halls. Many legends and beliefs are associated with the castle Skvorets. So, for example, they say that the spirit of Maria Theresa of Savoy, under whom the castle reached its peak, still guards the building, in the form of the White Lady of Savoy. And in the main chimney of the castle lives Drak, a kind of Serpent Gorynych, who patronizes the locals. By the way, during the reconstruction of the castle, the chimney was saved only because of this legend. Škvorec Castle has wine cellars that are famous for their collection of wines, Calvados and Nocino walnut liqueur.
Castle Glubochepy
Hlubocepy Castle is a classic monument of Czech architecture of the 16th century, which today hosts many official ceremonies, concerts and other cultural events. The castle is recognized as an architectural landmark of the Czech Republic - it has been on the country's cultural heritage list since 1958.
Anyone who loves history and fairy tales should visit often referred to as the country of castles. More than 2,000 historical objects have been preserved here, where thousands of guests come every year.
Small hunting castles, luxurious baroque palaces, romantic residences and picturesque medieval ruins are open to the public.
Each complex has features that distinguish it from its neighbors and attract inquisitive guests.
Guide
Sternberg
Severe Gothic castle, erected on a hill in the 13th century. This is a real family nest, bearing the name of its owners.
The last representative of the Sternberg family still lives in the castle, guests can get to know the owner during the tours.
Among the sights of the palace sumptuous knight's hall with a collection of weapons, antique carved furniture and unique crystal chandeliers.
The ceiling painting was made by Italian painters and attracts the attention of connoisseurs of fine arts.
History buffs will love the powerful fortress walls and ditches, as well as mysterious castle cellars and picturesque surroundings.
Loket
Castle located near. A building erected in the Middle Ages, separated the Czech lands from the German ones and served as a reliable defense against the invasion of enemies.
Later it became the residence of the Czech kings, and then fell into disrepair and served as a prison for many years.
Today the castle is classified as an ancient monument and is open to the public. On the territory of the complex you can see the ancient rotunda chapel with a collection of architectural artifacts, weapons museum, ancient ceremony hall where ceremonial weddings often take place.
In the cellars you can see ancient prison cells and even torture chambers with real tools of medieval executioners.
Konopiste
Ancient hunting castle, located in the middle of a luxurious English park with a rose garden and multi-level terraces. The castle has an extensive collection of glass, porcelain, furniture, sculptures, hunting trophies and weapons.
hunting castle belonged to the Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand, whose murder caused the outbreak of the First World War, many of the trophies that adorn the walls were mined by the owner himself.
The area has long been famous for breeding bears. A moat was dug near the castle, where a pair of these animals is always kept.
Sychrov
Real medieval castle in North Bohemia, lost among the hills and forests. It was here that the shooting of "Goldilocks" and other popular fairy tale films took place.
The castle complex has everything: English park, picturesque ruins of medieval buildings. You can watch falconry in the park, and in the castle cellars there is an aquarium with carps and other fish from the region.
The castle is best visited with a guide, which will tell interesting details from the life of the French aristocrats Rogans, who owned Sikhrov, will show a unique collection of carved antique furniture, which is considered the most extensive in the Czech Republic.
Valuable items made of porcelain and Venetian glass, paintings, weapons and other artifacts are exhibited here.
Houska
Mysterious gothic castle, located in dense forests near. It was built in the Middle Ages, later the building was repeatedly reconstructed. Opened for visits recently.
In the castle you can admire the unique wall frescoes, see a collection of weapons, paintings and furniture.
Today the building serves as a kind of museum., expositions of historical costumes, household items are regularly exhibited here, cultural events and vernissages are held.
Lednice
The palace, which has become a real landmark of South Moravia, is included in the list of UNESCO monuments. The castle was built in the Middle Ages, but in the 19th century it was reconstructed, which changed the appearance of the building.
For connoisseurs of antiquity, the complex has preserved the ruins of a medieval castle; a nearby minaret offers a panoramic view of the surroundings.
Around the castle complex there is an English park with pavilions, grottoes, pavilions. There is also a palm greenhouse where rare tropical plants are grown.
Park and castle Lednice in the Czech Republic
Orlik
Fairytale castle on the Vltava, erected directly above the water in the XIII century. It got its name from its resemblance to an eagle's nest. The castle belongs to an old noble family, but is open to visitors daily.
Here you can see a collection of ancient weapons, a luxurious library with valuable tomes, as well as artifacts from the excavations of ancient Troy.
Around the castle there is a picturesque park where peacocks walk. It also has its own mini zoo. that delights children.
Dobrish
One of the most beautiful Czech castles, built in the rococo style. The palace was completely reconstructed in the 18th century. Guests can admire the neoclassical, baroque or rococo halls.
There are extensive collections of paintings, sculptures, antique furniture, and porcelain. There is a large portrait gallery.
Large hall of mirrors, decorated with frescoes and stucco, often provided for weddings and other grand ceremonies.
Around the castle there is an English garden and a regular French park with gazebos, flower beds and alleys. There is an original motorcycle museum on site.
Miller
One of the oldest castles in the Czech Republic. It was built in the 13th century and has been repeatedly reconstructed. The picturesque view of the river and the vineyards surrounding the castle create a romantic atmosphere.
A variety of cultural events, presentations, weddings and balls often take place here.
The castle has extensive wine cellars. with drinks made from our own grapes. Here you can taste the unique local wine, tastings are regularly held for tourists.
On the territory of the complex there is an authentic pastry shop with traditional Czech sweets, a restaurant and a hotel.
Zbirog
The castle was built at the beginning of the 12th century and is considered one of the oldest in the Czech Republic. It is called the "Castle of the Three Kings", as well as the "Masonic Castle", because in the cellars of the building, representatives of the Lodge still conduct their mysterious rituals.
Tourists will be offered to see the highest fortress walls and deep ditches, they will be led through the halls of the palace, they will show the paintings of the artist Alphonse Mucha, the wine cellar, the prison tower and other attractions.
After the tour, you can take a walk in a huge park, where spectacular jousting tournaments often take place.
There is a tavern on the territory of the complex where you can have a delicious meal. Once a week, gala dinners for guests are held here, including a medieval menu and a rich show program.
Detenice
Spectacular baroque castle, where you can admire authentic interiors, a wonderful collection of paintings, antique furniture and hunting trophies.
Banquets and wedding celebrations are regularly held here. and various cultural events. Around the building there is a luxurious park with shady alleys and flower beds.
On the territory of the complex is located the famous tavern where daily shows take place with fakirs, oriental dancers and snake charmers.
The tavern serves hearty lunches and dinners with traditional Czech dishes, as well as freshly brewed beer from its own brewery. Guests can visit the production, inspect laboratories, cellars, old malteries.
Overnight stay in a medieval hotel, which is also located on the territory of the castle complex.
How to get there
Entire tourist routes have been developed for the convenience of guests. including visits to several castles.
You can get to the palace complexes on tourist buses, many tourists prefer to rent cars and get to the castles on their own.
To the castles located on the banks of the Vltava, can be reached by boat or river bus.
Check out the schedule of events before you travel. Some castles are closed on Mondays, others only open one or two days a week.
Many complexes include authentic cafes and restaurants, as well as hotels where you can stay overnight.
Czech castles deserve a careful and thoughtful approach. Do not try to drive around as many complexes as possible in one trip.
Experienced guides will help you create the best itinerary, including three or four castles from the same region.
Any tourist who has visited the fabulous Czech Republic will definitely want to return. Each trip will be an occasion for excursions to new, still unfamiliar palaces and parks.
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In any corner of the Czech Republic, in its picturesque nature, creations of building architecture from different eras are harmoniously intertwined. On the tops of hills and river cliffs towers and walls of old fortresses rise impregnably. In the thickets of the forest, ruins covered with mysticism are hidden, and magnificent palaces surrounded by graceful parks and gardens adjoin them.
Currently, about 2,000 examples of castle architecture are officially registered in the Czech Republic. In the Guinness Book of Records, it is the Czech Republic that holds the record for the most castles per square mile. (Formally, in the dwarf state of Liechtenstein, this number is higher, but its total territory is incomparably small). By European standards, the Czech Republic is not a big country, so staying in Prague, in a short time, you can easily visit any historical city or castle. So, one of the most famous European castles, Karlstejn, is located just 33 kilometers from the capital.
Almost every castle in the Czech Republic has its own unique history, its own zest. In their museums you can see rich collections of medieval weapons and armor, antique furniture, antique tapestries, dishes, and other household items, wonderful works of sculpture and painting. Many of them always contain some kind of exotic exhibit, closely related to the local legend. For example, in one of the most visited castles in the Czech Republic, Hluboka nad Vltava, there is a mirror with magical properties. It is alleged that when looking at him, a woman becomes more beautiful and younger. There is no doubt that a trip to Czech castles will leave you with an indelible impression, the only limitation can be that most of them are open for visits only from May to October.
The Czech Republic is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe. Tourists from all over the world come here to admire the amazing ancient sights. There are more than 2,000 ancient castles in this country, and I will talk about the most famous and most visited of them. Castles of the Czech Republic can easily compete in their beauty and history with the best castles in the world, so I decided to dedicate a separate selection to them.
Of course, Prague gets the most attention from tourists, and for good reason. But you should not be limited only to this city. In the Czech Republic, a huge number of ancient castles have been preserved, which are definitely worth a visit. Be sure to walk through all the halls and museums, in some of the castles you will even be offered to dine in a medieval style, and in some places you can even get married 
Let's start with the least famous castle on our list - Loket Castle near Karlovy Vary. Once it was an important fortress, but now just a popular tourist destination. Here you can admire many expositions, an exhibition of porcelain, weapons, and even get into a haunted room in the basement. Recently, it has become fashionable to arrange such attractions in castles, which tourists really like. As in many other similar places, the main income of local residents is the profit from serving tourists, therefore all the nearby streets are occupied by many souvenir shops and cafes where you can have a good meal with masterpieces of local cuisine.
Schwarzenberg Castle is also considered an interesting specimen. It is surrounded by a beautiful lush park, and in the castle itself there are many hunting trophies, stuffed animals and birds. The special architecture of the castle has made it quite a popular tourist attraction, so there is no shortage of visitors here either.
Sternberg differs from many other Czech castles in that it is privately owned. The owners managed to return it to their property after the collapse of the communist regime, and now the seventy-year-old descendant of the famous family lives here, and sometimes even leads tours of the ancient halls. Here you can see many interesting expositions dedicated to the history of the Sternberg family, an exhibition of weapons, porcelain and watches
More than seven centuries ago, the castle of Bouzov was also built, in the 17th century it was in the possession of the Order of the German Knights, therefore it can also be attributed to the castles of Germany. The castle is surrounded by legends of unrequited love and ghosts living here. You can visit a museum in a medieval style, and ask the guide for more details about the history of this building and its owners 
Well, now let's go directly to the three most popular castles in the Czech Republic. The most famous and visited of them is located near Prague and was once the official residence of the king. This is Karlštejn Castle and it is not easy to get into it because of the very large influx of tourists, especially in the summer season, so it is better to take care of a trip there in advance 
Another popular castle is Gluboka nad Vltava, built in the image of Windsor Palace in England. This is one of the most beautiful castles, with the richest historical exposition. Its history is also rich in interesting facts, which the guides conducting the tour will tell you about in detail.
Also popular is Kroměříž, an ancient town with a medieval castle, which was built over several centuries and absorbed the features of various styles that prevailed in a particular era. The city of the castle is a collection of paintings by famous artists such as Titian, Veronese and other masters of the brush 
We will complete our review with another old Czech city and its famous castle - this is Cesky Krumlov, a fairy tale city, here every street is a landmark and keeps its own special history 
In the future, I will continue to talk about interesting places in the Czech Republic, there are a lot of them. In continuation of the topic of castles, I advise you to visit the topic dedicated to the French castles of the Loire 
Fast, free, affordable. An interactive map with which you can get to a specific castle from anywhere in the world!
How does the card work?
- On the map of the Czech Republic, castles are marked with green signs in the form of a castle. To read about the castle, hover over the icon and go to the page with the description of the castle.
- To get directions to the castle, you need to look at the map below, where a list of castles in the Czech Republic is provided.
- Under each castle name, it says "Get directions" in a different font. As soon as you clicked at the very bottom, you will see an already filled field with the coordinates of the castle (second line). The first line requires you to indicate your location (starting point), city, street, etc.
- A little higher you can choose the mode of transportation: car, foot or bicycle.
- When all the parameters are specified, you just have to click on the " Get route". After that, you will be provided with detailed information on how your route will pass.
- The route provided by the system will be painted step by step, where the required direction will be indicated exactly to the meter, all streets, directions at intersections, passing cities, road numbers and routes.
