Castles of the Czech Republic - this is its pride and, perhaps, the main subject of tourists' curiosity; photos of Czech castles with names are often depicted on advertising brochures offering to visit the country and get unforgettable impressions. Tours of the castles of the Czech Republic from Prague are considered one of the most popular among the guests of the Czech capital.
Castles of the Czech Republic today
The answer to the question of how many castles in the Czech Republic is simply amazing: more than 2,500 of them have survived here! Perhaps more - only in Belgium and Scotland. Locks can be found almost anywhere in the country. Some of them today are museums , others - hotels , in the third live the descendants of their original owners - at the end of the XX century the property was returned to the owners.
In the XIX century, some of the castles were rebuilt in the style of Romanticism or Neo-Gothic, but the real medieval castles in the Czech Republic also survived. Even events are held here that are intended to familiarize those who are present with them with the history of the Czech Republic and the whole of Europe: theatrical performances, concerts of ancient music and knight tournaments. The structures are also used for a different purpose. For example, a wedding in the Czech Republic in a castle is very popular with Czech honeymooners and newlyweds from other European countries.
It is difficult to name all the castles in the country; Below are listed the most beautiful and interesting castles of the Czech Republic.
The capital locks
Tourists who have come to Prague should definitely visit the Prague Castle - the largest castle in the world and the largest of all presidential residences. It dates from the year 880; to this day the ruins of the Church of the Virgin Mary - the first stone structure of the castle complex - have been preserved.
Another castle, or rather - a fortress - in the territory of modern Prague is called Vysehrad . It is located on a hill just south of the center of the capital. Here you can see casemates, a cemetery, a basilica and a real medieval dungeon.
In addition to these two castles, directly on the territory of the Czech capital are:
- The castle of Troy, or Troy - is built in the Baroque style, it houses the country's largest museum of painting and landscape design;
- Leten Castle , which stands on the banks of the Vltava. It has 3 restaurants, which are considered the best in the Czech Republic due to their cuisine ;
- Liban Castle , built in the Rococo style on the site of the fortress existing since 1363;
- Castle Stenice XIV century in the Gothic style;
- Castle Roztoki in the Prague suburbs;
- Zbraslav Castle on the southern outskirts of Zbraslav is a national cultural monument .
Not far from the capital
Which castles of the Czech Republic are located near Prague? It:
- Konopiště - is located near the town of Benesov , about 50 km from Prague. Konopiště Castle occupies the first place in the Czech Republic in terms of popularity in terms of weddings;
- Karlštejn Castle is another popular place in the Czech Republic for getting married;
- Nelahozeves , 30 km from Prague, is famous for the largest collection of medieval paintings in the Czech Republic;
- Castle Melnik , which until 1475 lived the Queen of the Czech Republic;
- Poděbrady , possession of the famous King Jiří;
- Dobris Castle is 40 km from the Czech capital;
- Křivoklát Castle , one of the oldest in the Czech Republic, is very famous and visited.
Central part of the country
Locks in Central Bohemia are visited by tourists more often than others, because they are in relative proximity to Prague. The most famous of them are:
- Castle Kokorjin , one of the most established in the Czech Republic; Today it is private property, but some of its premises are accessible to tourists;
- Sternberg Castle in the heart of the Czech Republic;
- Brzesnice ;
- The goal is the rock ;
- the Castle of Bread , one of the few in the Czech Republic, the interior of which completely looks the way the dwelling of a medieval knight is supposed to be.
Southern Bohemia
The two main sights of South Bohemia are Hluboká nad Vltavou Castle (White Castle) and Krumlov Castle. Their visit is included in bus tours around the country and specifically in South Bohemia. There is also an excursion from Prague, also a bus, which includes a visit to these two castles.
Hluboka nad Vltavou is considered the most beautiful castle in the Czech Republic, and is often recognized as the most beautiful in Europe. It was founded in the 13th century, but in the XIXth century it underwent a thorough restructuring and acquired the appearance in which it has reached our days.
The castle of Cesky Krumlov is located 170 km from Prague in the town of the same name, which grew out of the settlements around the fortress. This is the second largest castle in the Czech Republic (more than Prague Castle only).
Among the best castles of South Bohemia are the following:
- Orlik Castle , a symbol of the royal power of the Czech Republic. This is another Schwarzenberg castle in the Czech Republic (the others are Krumlov, Vimperk, Zvikov, Třebo,, Hluboká nad Vltavou);
- Zvikov Castle , one of the oldest in the Czech Republic, is the "king of Czech castles". Some time in it were stored royal regalia;
- Castle Blatna , one of the oldest in the Czech Republic. He stands on a small island in the middle of the marshes, for which he received his name ("Blatna" translates as "swamp"). One of the three well-preserved water locks in the country;
- Castle Rosenberg , one of the most beautiful in the Czech Republic; correctly in Czech language the name of the castle and the city that grew up around it is pronounced "Rožmberk".
Locks in the North
The North of the Czech Republic suffered less often from attacks by militant neighbors. Therefore, there are few real Gothic castles, many were converted into palaces. Here you can see:
- Castle Friedland (Frýdlant), the very first in the Czech Republic to open its doors to visitors (this happened in 1801);
- Friedstein (preserved only in the form of ruins);
- Sikhrov ;
- Waldstein ;
- Castle Decin in Decin in the north of the Czech Republic.
Bohemia
In this historical region of the country the most famous is Bezdez Castle, one of the most mysterious in the Czech Republic; the most famous of its landmarks is the tower of 40-meter height.
Moravia
Among the numerous castles of the region, first of all it should be noted:
- castle Pernštejn , the most "severe" of all castles in the Czech Republic; its appearance has not changed since the 16th century;
- Castle Lednice , located on the territory of the largest landscape ensemble in the Czech Republic;
- castle Mikulov on the border of the Czech Republic with Austria;
- the castle of Bouzov ; It is known that during the 30-year war in the Czech Republic served as a prison for Swedish prisoners;
- Slavkov Castle , the national cultural monument of the Czech Republic.
Western Bohemia
Here, too, are several world famous castles:- Loket , famous in the Czech Republic in that it was one of the royal residences;
- Hysche Castle , on the territory of which there is a brewery known in the Czech Republic;
- Schwig Castle , one of the three best-preserved water locks in the Czech Republic.
Visiting Czech castles in winter
Those who are going to the Czech Republic for the New Year holidays , it will be interesting which castles work in the Czech Republic in the winter. Many of them are open between April and October, but due to the great demand for visiting these attractions during the winter holidays, some of the castles still open their doors to visitors. So, in winter you can visit:
- Prague Castle;
- Karlstejne;
- Křivokláte;
- Dobris;
- Český Krumlov;
- Miller;
- Hlubokie nad Vltavou;
- Rožmberke;
- Lokete;
- Decin Castle;
- Shpilberke;
- Lednice.
Accepts visitors all year round and the castle Sikhrov in the north of the Czech Republic. Is it possible to celebrate the New Year in the Czech Republic in the castle? Yes, and not even one! One of the most popular places to celebrate the New Year in the Czech Republic is Zbiroh Castle, 40 km from Prague.
Castle Detenice in the Czech Republic is also very popular, despite the fact that it costs a little more expensive than in other places, because it suits them with all sorts of luxuries, owning a family.
The most original locks
In the Czech Republic, almost all castles and fortresses are something famous. And the most mysterious of them can be called:
- Gouska , which, according to legend, was built to block the entrance to hell; during the war, the Nazis used it to conduct secret mystical experiments;
- Karlštejn - the most famous castle in the Czech Republic with ghosts; ghosts here have been observed a lot and different, the most famous of them is Belaya Pani;
- Rozhmberk , which also has its own White Lady;
- Sikhrov - here, on the contrary, Blacks live.