Famous Czech Castles, Chateaux and Villas

The romantic Baroque chateau of Troja is located by a lovely bend in the Vltava River, surrounded by lovely gardens and an old vineyard. This wonderful chateau or villa was designed by Jean Baptiste Mathey upon the request of the glorious Sternberg family after Wenzel Adalbert von Sternberg embarked on his essential Grand Tour and returned to Bohemia with visions of Roman residential splendor in his mind (the chateau is inspired by the spacious 16th and 17th century villas Sternberg witnessed outside of Rome in the Frascati area). The work of Jean Baptiste Mathey is important as it marks a tra ...

Prague Castle is the centerpiece of every Prague panorama. It overlooks the city and demands admiration. If you ever find yourself in Prague during summer dusk make sure to take a look at the sun setting behind St. Vitus Cathedral. The view is almost biblical. This complex dates back to the earliest history of Prague and is an important political and cultural venue in Czech history. Based on archeological research, the beginning of the Castle dates back to the 9th century and is linked with Prince Borivoj. Since the 10th century, Prague Castle has been the seat of Kings, religious leaders and ...

Located close to Prague is the most famous Czech castle, Karlstejn. Czech King and Roman Emperor Charles IV to house and protect the Royal Coronation Jewels and his collection of holy relics built this magnificent high Gothic fortress, founded in 1348. After 1480 the castle was reconstructed in the late Gothic style and in the Renaissance style in the late 16th century. The present day neo Gothic appearance of the castle is the work of architect Josef Mocker from the end of the 19th century. A major stop on every tourist path, Karlstejn is overcrowded and overrun by people in the summer, but ...

The second largest castle complex in the Czech Republic besides the massive Prague Castle, the Cesky Krumlov Castle complex is located in Southern Bohemia. The gorgeous castle sits perched high above the whimsical labyrinth like town and the winding Vltava River, beckoning visitors to walk among its history and tour its colorful halls. As you enter the castle look down into the castle moat to meet the protectors of the fortress, three furry bears. The main tower of the castle features a beautiful and colorful façade, sure to capture your eye and your imagination; if you can brave the narrow ...

In the protected area of Cesky Raj located about an hour northeast of Prague you will find magical castles and ruins, natural wonders such as rock cities and rock quarries containing semi precious stones and much more. Tucked away in the thick forest is the Kost Castle, or the Bone Castle. Kost Castle is the best-preserved Gothic castle in the Czech Republic. The castle remained untouched throughout the years, protecting its Gothic charm and atmosphere. Kost underwent a meticulous renovation in the 1950s. The hidden castle is located in a valley surrounded by dense forest, unlike most castles ...

Located in the pretty Berounka region west of Prague, Krivoklat, dating back to the 12th century is one of the oldest and most important castles in the country. Originally built during the reign of Přemysl Otakar II, the castle underwent many changes during different royal owners being at one time a royal residence, a hunting lodge and a feared prison. The castle was reconstructed and saved in the 19th century under the rule of the Furstenberg family who owned the castle until 1929. There are several tours available: the first tour concentrates on the castle interiors where you will see a ...

Konopiste, originally founded at the end of the 13th century, was built as a Gothic fortress overlooking and guarding the nearby village of Benesov. The chateau’s founder, Tobias of Benesov had the structure modeled after French castles at the time. The chateau had many owners over time, changing the appearance from Gothic to Renaissance, but the biggest change took place in the 18th century when the Vrtba family reconstructed the chateau into a Baroque residence. The chateau is undeniably connected with its last noble owner, Franz Ferdinand d’Este famous as the Archduke whose ...

Located about 15 miles from Prague, Nelahozeves Chateau is an excellent example of Renaissance architecture in the land of Bohemia. Nelahozeves, the name of the small village as well, is also famous as the hometown of famous Czech composer Antonin Dvorak (there is an interesting museum dedicated to the musical genius situated in his former home). The looming chateau, which overlooks the small village, is located very close to the train stop, making Nelahozeves Chateau a good choice for seniors wishing to tour Czech stately homes. The Chateau was founded by Florian Griesbeck a Tyrolean aris ...

Located near the Austrian border in South Moravia is the beautiful UNESCO protected Lednice-Valtice Cultural Landscape where you will find the grand Lednice Chateau. The chateau is situated in an English style park, the largest in the Czech Republic, complete with ponds and greenhouses plus fairy tale follies including temples, a minaret (the tallest outside of the Muslim world at the time it was built in 1797-1804), a romantic structure made to look like a Scottish ruin and much more. The town of Lednice first belonged to the royal Liechtenstein family in the Middle Ages; it was during the Re ...

Located in the Prague Castle Complex, the Lobkowicz Palace houses one of the most interesting private collections in Europe. Czech Nobleman Jaroslav of Pernstejn built the beautiful palace in the mid 16th century and this is where the Lobkowicz dynasty would begin. The Lobkowicz family dates back to the 14th century and they are one of the oldest Bohemian families. Over the centuries the noble family and the palace have played a significant role in Czech history, including the 1618 Defenestration of Prague; the Catholic priests hid from the angry Protestants in the Lobkowicz palace. During the ...

Located close to Prague is the lovely town of Melnik, a town known for its chateau that sits perched atop the confluence of the Vltava and the Labe Rivers. The region is an important agricultural center in the country and produces fruits, vegetables, potatoes, corn sugar beet and of course, wine. Anyone who lives in the region is well aware of the annual wine festival that takes place one September weekend out of the year to everyone’s delight. The beautiful chateau, owned by the famous Lobkowicz family is prized not only for its gorgeous interior but also for its extensive wine cellars. ...

The Renaissance Litomyšl Chateau was added to UNESCO’s list of world heritage sites in 1999. The Central European residence dominates the town and acts as the center for cultural events and local history. The interior of the chateau is open during the warmer months while the exterior castle grounds and gardens are open year round. The chateau’s interior showcases a chapel, a billiard room, library, and a massive crystal chandelier that was commissioned for the famous film Amadeus by Miloš Forman. A Baroque Theater makes the interior even more priceless, which is one of only five ...

The State Dacice Chateau is located in the area of Bohemia close to the attractive city of Ceske Budejovice, home to Czech Budvar. The chateau’s neo classicist façade is complemented by a robin’s egg blue color and features the above-mentioned neo Classicist façade from the last renovation that was finished around 1930. The originally Renaissance palace was built in 1591 by Oldřich Krajíř of Krajek, inspired by the Northern Italian Renaissance, the palace was built according to the grand palaces that graced the gentle rolling hills of Italy at the time. The palace was renovated ...

The wonderful Zakupy Chateau is located in the north of Bohemia, east of Ceska Lipa (about 1 hour and 45 minutes by car from Prague). This originally Renaissance chateau was built on the site of a Gothic fortress and it was rebuilt later in the early Baroque style in the late 17th century. The interiors were later refurbished in the style of the second Rococo, an artistic genre popular in the mid 19th century. The chateau is now state-owned and can be toured from May to September (except Mondays), while in April and October it is open to the public on the weekends (pre-ordered tours for groups ...

Vizovice Chateau is located in the fabled land of Moravia on a sacred spot that originated as a Cistercian monastery in operation from 1749 – 1770. In the 18th century under the rule and management of the Blumegen family, the impressive chateau was created alongside a large French style garden. The opulent interiors have been richly decorated and furnished throughout the years with Baroque, Rococo, Empire style and Biedermeier elements. The chateau showcases a large collection of diverse chinaware as well as other decorative arts plus a priceless collection of Dutch painting; the collec ...

Karlova Koruna Chateau, which translates to Charles’s Crown, is one of most important Baroque chateaux in the Czech Republic and was designed by Jan Santini Aichel, a prominent Italian architect of the 1700s. The chateau was realized between 1721 and 1723 and was built as the summer home of Count Frantisek Ferdinand Kinsky in honor of Emperor Charles IV coronation. When the Emperor visited the chateau it was renamed to its current title, Charles’s Crown Chateau. The structure features a unique ground plan, which showcases a cylindrical core with three wings; the effect of the grou ...

The Zleby Chateau dates back to before 1289 and was originally founded as a Gothic fortress under the Lichtenburk family. The Zleby Chateau was rebuilt after the Hussite Wars in the late 15th century in the Renaissance style and would be reconstructed again in the Baroque style in the late 16th century. The last complete renovation was made in 1849-68 under the management of Karel Vincenc Auersperg. The chateau is home to historical relics and copies of relics from all over the Old World and also features an intriguing collection of leather wallpaper, painted glass windowpanes, old, intricate ...

The castle of Frýdlant is located in the Liberec region of the Czech Republic and is one of the country’s most visited castles. The Gothic structure was first mentioned as being under the ownership of the Ronovci House, however in 1278 the Bohemian King Přemysl Otakar II gave the structure and lordship to Rulek of Bieberstein instead. If you visit Frýdlant Castle today you will see the original Gothic castle with a high tower blended together with a large Renaissance chateau. The Renaissance addition occurred between the 16th and 17th centuries due to the influence of such noble houses ...

The romantic Baroque chateau of Troja is located by a lovely bend in the Vltava River, surrounded by lovely gardens and an old vineyard. This wonderful chateau or villa was designed by Jean Baptiste Mathey upon the request of the glorious Sternberg family after Wenzel Adalbert von Sternberg embarked on his essential Grand Tour and returned to Bohemia with visions of Roman residential splendor in his mind (the chateau is inspired by the spacious 16th and 17th century villas Sternberg witnessed outside of Rome in the Frascati area). The work of Jean Baptiste Mathey is important as it marks a tra ...

Prague Castle is the centerpiece of every Prague panorama. It overlooks the city and demands admiration. If you ever find yourself in Prague during summer dusk make sure to take a look at the sun setting behind St. Vitus Cathedral. The view is almost biblical. This complex dates back to the earliest history of Prague and is an important political and cultural venue in Czech history. Based on archeological research, the beginning of the Castle dates back to the 9th century and is linked with Prince Borivoj. Since the 10th century, Prague Castle has been the seat of Kings, religious leaders and ...

Located close to Prague is the most famous Czech castle, Karlstejn. Czech King and Roman Emperor Charles IV to house and protect the Royal Coronation Jewels and his collection of holy relics built this magnificent high Gothic fortress, founded in 1348. After 1480 the castle was reconstructed in the late Gothic style and in the Renaissance style in the late 16th century. The present day neo Gothic appearance of the castle is the work of architect Josef Mocker from the end of the 19th century. A major stop on every tourist path, Karlstejn is overcrowded and overrun by people in the summer, but ...

The second largest castle complex in the Czech Republic besides the massive Prague Castle, the Cesky Krumlov Castle complex is located in Southern Bohemia. The gorgeous castle sits perched high above the whimsical labyrinth like town and the winding Vltava River, beckoning visitors to walk among its history and tour its colorful halls. As you enter the castle look down into the castle moat to meet the protectors of the fortress, three furry bears. The main tower of the castle features a beautiful and colorful façade, sure to capture your eye and your imagination; if you can brave the narrow ...

In the protected area of Cesky Raj located about an hour northeast of Prague you will find magical castles and ruins, natural wonders such as rock cities and rock quarries containing semi precious stones and much more. Tucked away in the thick forest is the Kost Castle, or the Bone Castle. Kost Castle is the best-preserved Gothic castle in the Czech Republic. The castle remained untouched throughout the years, protecting its Gothic charm and atmosphere. Kost underwent a meticulous renovation in the 1950s. The hidden castle is located in a valley surrounded by dense forest, unlike most castles ...

Located in the pretty Berounka region west of Prague, Krivoklat, dating back to the 12th century is one of the oldest and most important castles in the country. Originally built during the reign of Přemysl Otakar II, the castle underwent many changes during different royal owners being at one time a royal residence, a hunting lodge and a feared prison. The castle was reconstructed and saved in the 19th century under the rule of the Furstenberg family who owned the castle until 1929. There are several tours available: the first tour concentrates on the castle interiors where you will see a ...

Konopiste, originally founded at the end of the 13th century, was built as a Gothic fortress overlooking and guarding the nearby village of Benesov. The chateau’s founder, Tobias of Benesov had the structure modeled after French castles at the time. The chateau had many owners over time, changing the appearance from Gothic to Renaissance, but the biggest change took place in the 18th century when the Vrtba family reconstructed the chateau into a Baroque residence. The chateau is undeniably connected with its last noble owner, Franz Ferdinand d’Este famous as the Archduke whose ...

Located about 15 miles from Prague, Nelahozeves Chateau is an excellent example of Renaissance architecture in the land of Bohemia. Nelahozeves, the name of the small village as well, is also famous as the hometown of famous Czech composer Antonin Dvorak (there is an interesting museum dedicated to the musical genius situated in his former home). The looming chateau, which overlooks the small village, is located very close to the train stop, making Nelahozeves Chateau a good choice for seniors wishing to tour Czech stately homes. The Chateau was founded by Florian Griesbeck a Tyrolean aris ...

Located near the Austrian border in South Moravia is the beautiful UNESCO protected Lednice-Valtice Cultural Landscape where you will find the grand Lednice Chateau. The chateau is situated in an English style park, the largest in the Czech Republic, complete with ponds and greenhouses plus fairy tale follies including temples, a minaret (the tallest outside of the Muslim world at the time it was built in 1797-1804), a romantic structure made to look like a Scottish ruin and much more. The town of Lednice first belonged to the royal Liechtenstein family in the Middle Ages; it was during the Re ...

Located in the Prague Castle Complex, the Lobkowicz Palace houses one of the most interesting private collections in Europe. Czech Nobleman Jaroslav of Pernstejn built the beautiful palace in the mid 16th century and this is where the Lobkowicz dynasty would begin. The Lobkowicz family dates back to the 14th century and they are one of the oldest Bohemian families. Over the centuries the noble family and the palace have played a significant role in Czech history, including the 1618 Defenestration of Prague; the Catholic priests hid from the angry Protestants in the Lobkowicz palace. During the ...

Located close to Prague is the lovely town of Melnik, a town known for its chateau that sits perched atop the confluence of the Vltava and the Labe Rivers. The region is an important agricultural center in the country and produces fruits, vegetables, potatoes, corn sugar beet and of course, wine. Anyone who lives in the region is well aware of the annual wine festival that takes place one September weekend out of the year to everyone’s delight. The beautiful chateau, owned by the famous Lobkowicz family is prized not only for its gorgeous interior but also for its extensive wine cellars. ...

The Renaissance Litomyšl Chateau was added to UNESCO’s list of world heritage sites in 1999. The Central European residence dominates the town and acts as the center for cultural events and local history. The interior of the chateau is open during the warmer months while the exterior castle grounds and gardens are open year round. The chateau’s interior showcases a chapel, a billiard room, library, and a massive crystal chandelier that was commissioned for the famous film Amadeus by Miloš Forman. A Baroque Theater makes the interior even more priceless, which is one of only five ...

The State Dacice Chateau is located in the area of Bohemia close to the attractive city of Ceske Budejovice, home to Czech Budvar. The chateau’s neo classicist façade is complemented by a robin’s egg blue color and features the above-mentioned neo Classicist façade from the last renovation that was finished around 1930. The originally Renaissance palace was built in 1591 by Oldřich Krajíř of Krajek, inspired by the Northern Italian Renaissance, the palace was built according to the grand palaces that graced the gentle rolling hills of Italy at the time. The palace was renovated ...

The wonderful Zakupy Chateau is located in the north of Bohemia, east of Ceska Lipa (about 1 hour and 45 minutes by car from Prague). This originally Renaissance chateau was built on the site of a Gothic fortress and it was rebuilt later in the early Baroque style in the late 17th century. The interiors were later refurbished in the style of the second Rococo, an artistic genre popular in the mid 19th century. The chateau is now state-owned and can be toured from May to September (except Mondays), while in April and October it is open to the public on the weekends (pre-ordered tours for groups ...

Vizovice Chateau is located in the fabled land of Moravia on a sacred spot that originated as a Cistercian monastery in operation from 1749 – 1770. In the 18th century under the rule and management of the Blumegen family, the impressive chateau was created alongside a large French style garden. The opulent interiors have been richly decorated and furnished throughout the years with Baroque, Rococo, Empire style and Biedermeier elements. The chateau showcases a large collection of diverse chinaware as well as other decorative arts plus a priceless collection of Dutch painting; the collec ...

Karlova Koruna Chateau, which translates to Charles’s Crown, is one of most important Baroque chateaux in the Czech Republic and was designed by Jan Santini Aichel, a prominent Italian architect of the 1700s. The chateau was realized between 1721 and 1723 and was built as the summer home of Count Frantisek Ferdinand Kinsky in honor of Emperor Charles IV coronation. When the Emperor visited the chateau it was renamed to its current title, Charles’s Crown Chateau. The structure features a unique ground plan, which showcases a cylindrical core with three wings; the effect of the grou ...

The Zleby Chateau dates back to before 1289 and was originally founded as a Gothic fortress under the Lichtenburk family. The Zleby Chateau was rebuilt after the Hussite Wars in the late 15th century in the Renaissance style and would be reconstructed again in the Baroque style in the late 16th century. The last complete renovation was made in 1849-68 under the management of Karel Vincenc Auersperg. The chateau is home to historical relics and copies of relics from all over the Old World and also features an intriguing collection of leather wallpaper, painted glass windowpanes, old, intricate ...

The castle of Frýdlant is located in the Liberec region of the Czech Republic and is one of the country’s most visited castles. The Gothic structure was first mentioned as being under the ownership of the Ronovci House, however in 1278 the Bohemian King Přemysl Otakar II gave the structure and lordship to Rulek of Bieberstein instead. If you visit Frýdlant Castle today you will see the original Gothic castle with a high tower blended together with a large Renaissance chateau. The Renaissance addition occurred between the 16th and 17th centuries due to the influence of such noble houses ...

Considered a masterpiece and icon of modern architecture, the Tugendhat Villa is located in the Moravian city of Brno. Designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, the Tugendhat Villa was built between the years 1928 – 1930 for the couple Fritz and Greta Tugendhat. Mies van der Rohe constructed the villa, a perfect example of Functionalism from an iron framework that enabled the structure to be full of space and natural light. The house was finished with luxurious materials including onyx and tropical woods. The interior was not decorated with artwork or décor as the natural materials Mies used ...

Spilberk Castle is an old castle fortress situated in Brno on a hilltop in Southern Moravia. It dates back to the 13th century and the Přemyslid dynasty. The royal Castle was completed by King Přemyslid Otakar of Bohemia and as the seat of the Moravian military governors in the mid 14th century. During the Austro-Hungarian era the massive structure was turned into a Baroque fortress and was considered one of the most brutal prisons of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and was referred to as the Dungeon of the Nations. After 1822 the fortress was made famous by the Italian poet Silvio Pellico, who ...

One of the most famous and most visited castles in the Czech Republic is the Hluboká Castle. Located close to České Budějovice, the castle sits on a pond basin and above the Vltava River. Originally a royal castle, Hluboká was established in the 13th century by King Premysl Otakar II. In 1661 the Schwarzenberg family gained possession of the structure and reconstructed the castle to its present day Neo Gothic appearance based on the English castle of Windsor. Hluboká Castle has had four major reconstructions. The reconstruction was finished in 1871; the family created 140 richly decorated ...

Located in a whimsical area of Northern Bohemia overlooking gently rolling hills is the romantic Bezdez Castle. Lovers of Czech literature will surely appreciate the background of the castle as it is seeped in Czech lore and romantic myth. The Gothic Bezdez Castle consists of a chapel and various ruins. The structure itself is perched atop a hill, which is not recommended for senior citizens or people with health problems, as it is a steep hill to climb. The castle dates back to 1264 when its construction started due to the wishes of Přemysl Otakar II. Visitors to the castle can see the Royal ...

Situated in the center of Český ráj (Czech Paradise) and overlooking the gorgeous rocky and lush green landscape is the ruin of Trosky Castle. The symbol of Czech Paradise, the castle features two towers, aptly named Baby and Panna, or Grandma and Maiden. The grand castle ruin stands tall and proud atop two basalt volcanic plugs that stand quite high from the bottom of the hill, which made the castle once impregnable. Due to fire and war however the structure is now a grand ruin, and how grand it is, as you will witness its admirable power as it captures and steals the spotlight from the na ...

The Castle and Chateau complex in Jindřichův Hradec dates back to the 10th century when it grew from an original Slavic settlement which was situated on rocky land above the confluence of the Nežárka River and the Hamerský Brook. The chateau, which is the third largest in the Czech Republic after Prague Castle and the Cesky Krumlov Castle, started as a Romanesque-Gothic fortress and then morphed into a majestic Gothic castle titled “Novum castrum“ or New Castle, which served the Lords of Hradec as their main residence until 1604 when the family died out. At the end of the 16th cen ...

Explore the romantic Loučeň Chateau with its 11 labyrinths and mazes located in the large park of the chateau! The Loučeň Chateau, which you can easily reach from Prague by taking the highway in the direction of Mladá Boleslav, presents an ideal place to go if you are looking to learn something new, see something romantic and have some fun. You will be guided through the chateau by a costumed duchess or her valet. After an engaging presentation about life at the chateau some one hundred years ago you will set off for the spacious park with labyrinths and mazes, which is a big attraction and a ...

The five-star eco-chic chateau hotel, Chateau Mcely,  the only one of its kind in the Czech Republic, is located in a picturesque village of Mcely less than one hour's drive northeast of Prague. This luxury hotel surrounded by a beautiful English park with its high quality of service, beautiful interiors and breathtaking setting will please even the most demanding of clients. The chateau was opened in 2006 after a meticulous reconstruction that was necessary in order to set the decaying building into operation. The chateau was built in the 17th century as a hunting lodge and later became ...