START
If you’re in the market for storybook castles so evocative that you can almost see the knight galloping past you on his horse, you’ve come to the right country.
The Czech Republic, like much of Central Europe, is packed with castles both large and small, from imposing hilltop fortresses that are visible for miles around to stately châteaus with exquisitely kept gardens. There are towers you can climb, bears in moats, vineyards, myths and legends, battlements, turrets, and dazzling baroque and Gothic architecture. You can even stay overnight, like a visiting lord or lady. Here’s our pick of the best.
1 OF 10
Prague Castle
WHERE: Prague
An unmissable sight in the city of a hundred spires, this beautiful castle is actually more of a collection of buildings, some dating back as far as the 10th century, which have been at the heart of Czech governance for more than 1,000 years. From jousting and defenestrations (literally, chucking one’s enemies out of the window—it happened several times in the history of Bohemia) to more modern moments like the arrival of Adolf Hitler in Prague or the inauguration of President Václav Havel, Prague Castle has seen it all, and it remains the official residence of the Czech president. Sights-wise, it boasts the dazzling St. Vitus Cathedral, several palaces, ancient treasure, historic courtyards, stunning, hilly gardens, and the bewitching Golden Lane, a tiny street of picturesque cottages restored to showcase their original uses and house shops, from a tavern to a bookstore. Be warned, though: recently introduced security measures mean long, long lines, even for those who just want to enter the castle complex. It is free to wander around, but an access-all-areas ticket is very worthwhile to enter the main sights and costs 350 Kč.
INSIDER TIPShow up before the great gates open to beat the crowds.
2 OF 10
Vyšehrad Citadel
WHERE: Prague
Prague’s “second castle” is much less visited than the main event, but it has an awesome history, several fascinating buildings, and even casemates, a network of underground tunnels originally built for soldiers, plus lovely views over the winding Vltava River. Vyšehrad is also rich with myth and legend, including the idea that it is where Prague’s founding mother, Libuše, foretold the glorious future of the city (as well as took time to bathe with her lovers before throwing them into the river below, according to the myth; the so-called ruins of her bath can be glimpsed on the cliffside). The main sights include the brick gate, the Romanesque rotunda of St. Martin, the neo-Gothic Bazilika sv. Petra a Pavla (Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul), and the national cemetery. The hourly tour of the casemates, which house some of the original baroque statues from the Charles Bridge, is not to be missed.
INSIDER TIPRefuel with the delicious ice-cream cups at Café Citadela Vyšehrad.
3 OF 10
Hrad Český Krumlov (Český Krumlov Castle)
WHERE: Český Krumlov
There is a reason the entire historic center of this town in Southern Bohemia, including its 13th-century castle, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1992: It is storybook perfect. Oh, and there’s a bear in the castle moat. Český Krumlov is one of Central Europe’s most picturesque towns, and even the hordes who descend upon it for a day-trip from Prague barely rain on its historic parade. You can give them the slip by staying overnight if you have time, but it’s also a doable day-trip from Prague (2.5 hours by car, a little longer by bus or train).
4 OF 10
Hrad Karlštejn (Karlštejn Castle)
WHERE: Karlštejn
Karlštejn, a large castle close to Prague, was built to house the crown jewels and was once Charles IV’s summer palace. The jewels have been relocated to Prague’s St. Vitus Cathedral, but the castle, an hour or so from the capital, remains a Gothic gem in its own right. It’s a steep climb up to see it, mind you, on a path lined with tacky souvenir stalls, but it’s worth it for the battlements, turrets, and towers that reward you at the top. There are several pleasant hikes available from the castle walls, too—ask about the 45-minute trip to the flooded quarry, Little America.
INSIDER TIPThere are several different tours at the castle. The best one is Tour Two, including the sacred rooms of the castle and the Chapel of the Holy Cross, but it needs to be booked in advance on the phone (English is spoken). All are accompanied by a guide.
5 OF 10
Křivoklát
WHERE: Křivoklát
Perhaps the most authentic, evocative, and adventurous castles close(ish) to Prague, the romantic château of Křivoklát is notoriously difficult for non-Czech speakers to pronounce. The name means “twisted branches,” which is a hint about the poetic feel of this château, a favorite with Czechs because of its appearances in various works of literature. Founded in the 12th century for the medieval kings of Bohemia, its monumental tower steals the glory, but the atmospheric chapel, library, and dungeons are all worth a visit too.
INSIDER TIPKrrsszzz-heev-oh-klat is a reasonable stab at the pronunciation, but you might still get blank faces. Take your guide or map along to point to if all else fails.
6 OF 10
Zámek Konopiště (Konopiště Castle)
WHERE: Benešov
Konopiště, a château in a huge, beautiful park, traded hands between nobles in the centuries following its construction around the 13th century, but it is best known for its supporting role in a piece of modern history: it was the country residence for the doomed Archduke Franz Ferdinand, whose 1914 assassination sparked World War I. In World War II, it housed some units of the German SS.
INSIDER TIPHunting was a big deal for many of this castle’s former residents, and a “hunting” tour is even offered as one of the options as a themed way of exploring, featuring many stuffed bear heads and the like. More traditional tours of the private rooms and other features are available too.
7 OF 10
Zamek Loučeň (Loučeň Castle)
WHERE: Loučeň
You can stay overnight at this romantic baroque château in central Bohemia, and we don’t just mean inadvertently (it’s easy to get lost in one of the many garden mazes). The overall impression here is of history that doesn’t take itself too seriously: Tours around the castle can be taken with a costumed prince, princess, their valet, or even a forester, and the 11 garden labyrinths in the castle’s large English-style park enhance the vibe. There are three suites in the castle itself for those who really want to take the whole “king for a day” fantasy to the max, and the Maximilian hotel on-site is housed in a building dating from 1834 but boasts modern amenities like a swimming pool in a nearby annex.
8 OF 10
Arcibiskupský zámek (Archbishops’ Château)
WHERE: Kroměříž
The entire town of the same name is an attractive stop in Moravia, but the real draw here is the Archbishops’ Château, a spectacular residence designed for the powerful archbishops of Olomouc in 1260. The gardens are beautiful and UNESCO-listed, too. The castle itself is made up of a complex of libraries, a music archive, an art gallery, and tens of rooms and halls in the early baroque style. The château’s Assembly Hall is considered to be one of the most jaw-dropping rococo halls in the Czech Republic. The château’s tower boasts lovely views, too, after a climb to the top, and its art collection is absolutely top drawer.
INSIDER TIPFilm buffs might find the surroundings a little familiar; that’s because the château, gardens, and surrounding town featured heavily in Miloš Forman’s Amadeus.
9 OF 10
Státní zámek Hluboká (State Château Hluboká)
WHERE: Hluboká nad Vltavou
Possibly the most beautiful and romantic castle in the whole country, located in Southern Bohemia, Hluboká has roots in the 13th century but really came into its own in the hands of a wealthy family in the 19th, who took their inspiration from Britain’s Windsor Castle, which gives you an idea of the grandeur on offer here. The gardens are free, but the interiors are worth seeing on a tour, whether you prefer the decorative excess of the salon or the behind-the-scenes glimpse of the kitchens. The castle is open all year and perhaps is at its most picturesque dusted with snow in the depths of winter.
INSIDER TIPThere are direct buses from Prague, which take just over two hours.
10 OF 10
Lednice-Valtice Cultural Landscape
WHERE: Lednice
Two châteaus for the price of one, with vineyards and a gorgeous park to boot. This immense complex in southern Moravia was transformed between the 17th and 20th centuries by the dukes of Lichtenstein into the striking 200-km (124-mile) landscape visitors find today, one of the biggest “composed” landscapes of this type in Europe and possibly the world. As well as the two imposing main châteaus, there are several towns, a village, ponds, and many smaller buildings to explore, from chapels to temples, theaters to wine cellars. Many ancient forts have also been discovered on-site, and there are footpaths, tours, and even bike paths to help you explore.
INSIDER TIPIt might sound cheesy, but a horse-drawn carriage is actually a practical (if somewhat ostentatious) way to cram in a few more sights.