Impregnable fortresses, strongholds from times of revolt, dreamlike chateaux and summer palaces in sprawling gardens: the Czech Republic could fairly be called a land of castles – with almost 3,000 of them, it has one of the highest densities of castles in the world. They stand in wonderful places, on rocky crags, wooded hills and the banks of rushing rivers. Here are ten of the most beautiful castles in the Czech Republic, grouped by region to make planning easier.
Castles in the Czech Republic near Prague and in the south
1. Karlštejn Castle
About half an hour’s drive from Prague, Karlštejn is the most visited castle in the country. It sits on a wooded hillside in the Bohemian Karst nature reserve. It was built in the 14th century for Charles IV, King of Bohemia and Holy Roman Emperor, to hold the imperial treasures, a collection of holy relics and the crown jewels. According to one legend the castle was designed solely for Charles’s religious and secular needs, and women were not allowed in.
2. Hluboká nad Vltavou
This dreamy white chateau in South Bohemia is surrounded by immaculate gardens. It was built and styled after England’s Windsor Castle and has more than 140 rooms and eleven towers. Several tours take you through halls decorated with carved panelling, ornate ceilings, elegant furniture, crystal chandeliers and extensive collections of paintings, silver, porcelain and antique tapestries.
3. Orlík Castle
Orlík stands on the border between South and Central Bohemia, on a rocky ridge that once towered over the Vltava valley like an eagle’s nest. Today it is surrounded by the large Orlík reservoir. The early Gothic castle served as a toll station for river traffic and later passed to the House of Schwarzenberg, who changed its use. It is worth taking a boat from the castle to Zvíkov and back.
North and East Bohemia
4. Nové Město nad Metují
On the pretty square of Nové Město nad Metují you will find a charming chateau set in a garden. At the start of the 20th century the Baroque building was in poor condition and underwent a thorough renovation, complete with modern fittings: central heating, electricity, a telephone and even guest and service lifts. The garden has a beautiful bridge by architect Dušan Jurkovič, who also designed the folk-style buildings at Pustevny in Moravia, and statues of dwarfs made as caricatures of the lord and his servants.
5. Hrubá Skála
Blessed with one of the finest views in the country, in the area known as the Bohemian Paradise. The chateau was built in the 14th century on a sandstone cliff about six kilometres south-east of Turnov, and now serves as a hotel and restaurant. From here you can walk into a rock labyrinth with lovely views over the UNESCO Geopark.
6. Litomyšl Castle
Magnificent sgraffito decoration, striking vaults, elegant arcades, gardens and mysterious cellars earned Litomyšl a place on the UNESCO World Heritage List. It was the seat of the Pernštejn family and was built in Italian Renaissance style as a gift from the lord to his wife. It is one of the most beautiful Renaissance buildings in Bohemia and also has a unique, superbly preserved family theatre dating from 1797.
Moravia and Silesia
7. Lednice
The Lednice-Valtice area is known as the “Garden of Europe” and is listed by UNESCO. Over the generations a park grew up here full of rare trees, ponds and lakes, small romantic follies and two chateaux. Lednice itself is a period masterpiece, considered one of the loveliest examples of English-style neo-Gothic in Europe. Inside are beautiful furniture, a remarkable wooden staircase and rare paintings. Leave time for the gardens too, with their palm house and a 60-metre minaret.
8. Bouzov
A stunning medieval castle in Moravia, near the city of Olomouc. It was built at the end of the 13th century and extensively restored at the end of the 19th, when it became the romantic structure seen today, with a drawbridge, battlements, bay windows and arrow slits. Its idyllic look has made it a popular location for period films, Czech children’s films among them.
9. Bítov
This Gothic castle in western Moravia was remodelled in the 19th century. It rises high above the confluence of the Dyje and Želetavka rivers, on a wooded slope over the Vranov reservoir. During the First Republic it housed one of the largest private zoos in Europe. Its owner, Baron Georg Haas von Hasenfels, was devoted to animals, and his collection of dogs is recorded in the Guinness Book of Records.
10. Hradec nad Moravicí
Look at the entrance gate: it strongly recalls a Disney castle, which is why many call this the Moravian Disney castle. It stands near Opava in gorgeous countryside. Famous guests have included the composer Ludwig van Beethoven. The area is also known for its successful merino sheep breeding. Tsar Alexander I himself took some of the famous sheep home, and the flocks also contributed to the first merino stock in Australia.
Tips for visiting Czech castles
- Check the season: many castles and chateaux open only from April to October, or close on Mondays.
- Book a tour: interiors can usually be visited only on guided tours, some of them in English, and popular tours sell out in summer.
- Rent a car: most castles are outside the cities, so driving is the easiest way to combine several in one trip.
- Combine with towns: pair South Bohemian castles with Český Krumlov, Moravian ones with the Jewish Quarter of Třebíč, and Nové Město nad Metují with the nearby Adršpach Rocks.
Planning your castle route
Most visitors start in the capital, so our Prague guide for a first visit is a useful companion. Families heading north will find more ideas in the northern Czech Republic with kids.
In cooperation with CzechTourism.
