If you consider the Czech Republic you might not consider castles, however this charming central European nation has one of many highest densities of castles on the planet. There are greater than 2,000 castles within the Czech Republic.
You may not have time for all of these citadel excursions in your subsequent go to to the Czech Republic. So, we narrowed down the record so that you can the High 10 Should Go to Castles in Czech Republic!
Czech Republic Citadel FAQ
Q: What number of Castles are there within the Czech Republic?
A: There are greater than 2,000 castles within the Czech Republic
Q: What’s Citadel in Czech translation?
A: Hrad is the Czech phrase for citadel, and it may be discovered within the names and signage for a lot of castles within the Czech Republic
Q: What’s the most well-known citadel within the Czech Republic?
A: The Prague Citadel is essentially the most well-known citadel and apart from being a shocking piece of structure, it’s nonetheless an vital a part of the federal government within the Czech Republic.
1. Prague Citadel
The most important and definitely one of the vital spectacular castles within the Czech Republic must be the Prague Citadel. Situated within the coronary heart of the capital metropolis, the Prague Citadel will be seen from many spots throughout town. Nevertheless, the easiest way to expertise it’s to take a guided tour of the grounds and vital rooms. In case you are quick on time or would relatively discover by yourself we even have an intensive information to Prague Citadel.
The dimensions and scale of Prague Citadel usually are not simply immense when evaluating it to different Czech Republic Castles, however it’s one of many high 3 largest castles in your entire world. Plan on spending a greater half of your day right here if you wish to see a lot of the highlights.
Don’t miss town views from excessive on the citadel partitions for some distinctive views trying again towards Outdated City Sq..
2. Cesky Krumlov Citadel
Located within the coronary heart of Cesky Krumlov, the UNESCO World Heritage web site of Cesky Krumlov Citadel is the second-most visited citadel in all the Czech Republic. Though the origins of the citadel date again to the mid-1200s, its present Baroque look was accomplished within the 1600s.
It’s onerous to overlook this towering citadel because it looms over your entire historic metropolis heart. As you method the entrance of the citadel, you’ll stroll over the Bear Moat Bridge. This leads on to the Decrease Citadel, the oldest remaining construction on the property. Then, you’ll must cross the five-story Cloak Bridge to achieve the Higher Citadel, which incorporates the gorgeous Cesky Krumlov Baroque Theater. The theater was inbuilt 1767 and is without doubt one of the final remaining Baroque theaters in Europe.
After touring the inside of the citadel, make your solution to the beautiful gardens. On the heart of the gardens is the cascading fountain, constructed within the 18th century in a Baroque type. You’ll additionally discover a revolving auditorium that was just lately inbuilt 1959.
3. Hluboka Citadel
With its white stone facade and plush rose gardens, the Hluboka Citadel appears to be like as if it belongs in a fairytale. Initially constructed within the thirteenth century, the Hluboka Citadel has been via a number of reconstructions throughout its lifetime. The present constructing was constructed within the 18th century by the aristocratic Schwarzenberg household, who lived within the citadel till the beginning of World Warfare II. Now, the Hluboka Citadel is a chosen Nationwide Cultural Monument; it’s thought-about to be one of the vital spectacular castles within the Czech Republic.
Contained in the citadel, you’ll discover ornately adorned libraries, eating rooms, smoking rooms, and extra. It’s additionally doable to go to the personal condominium that after belonged to Jan Adolf II Schwarzenberg, the person who restored the citadel within the 18th century. As you stroll via the citadel, pay attention to the portraits hanging within the completely different rooms – a lot of them are work of the Schwarzenberg relations.
4. Lednice Citadel
Though the Lednice Citadel dates again to the early 1200s, the present citadel because it appears to be like at present was constructed within the mid-1800s. Prince Alois II, the Prince of Liechtenstein on the time, constructed the palace as his summer time retreat. With its stately spires and marvelous leisure halls, the Lednice Citadel can simply be categorised as an English Neo-Gothic constructing.
Apart from touring the inside of the citadel’s grand halls and flats, it’s additionally value taking the time to benefit from the manicured gardens surrounding the castles. A tranquil lake sits on the entrance of the citadel and is dotted with small islands and slender river channels. On the lake, it’s doable to lease a ship to take you to the park’s towering minaret. An opulent various is to rent a horse and carriage, which is able to take you across the citadel grounds as a substitute.
The citadel grounds embrace a palm-tree greenhouse, Masonic wall, and even a Roman aqueduct. With so many issues to see and do, it’s really helpful to spend at the least a full day exploring the whole lot the citadel has to supply.
5. Kost Citadel
Based within the 14th century by Beneš of Vartemberk, the Kost Citadel is without doubt one of the best-preserved Gothic castles within the Czech Republic. Many of the citadel’s outer construction stays in its authentic type, though completely different buildings, just like the Renaissance Bibrštejn and Lobkowicz Palace, had been added over the previous couple of centuries. Total, it’s the trapezoid-like flooring plan and large stone towers that make it’s one of the vital spectacular fortresses within the nation.
Probably the most beautiful function of Kost Citadel is the five-story White Tower, which was used as a protection lookout tower. You’ll additionally discover the smaller, cylindrical Hungary tower close by constructed within the 14th century. The citadel is encircled by thick stone partitions, which added an additional stage of safety to the protection fortress.
Throughout your guided tour of the citadel, you’ll even be taken into the underground torture chamber, used to carry prisoners throughout the sixteenth, seventeenth, and 18th-centuries.
6. Karlstejn Citadel
Nestled between tree-lined forests and rolling hills, the magnificent Karlstejn Citadel boasts panoramic views of the village of Karlstejn. It was constructed as a treasury in 1348 by King Charles IV, who used the citadel to carry his royal treasures and crown jewels from the Roman Empire. These treasures had been situated within the Chapel of the Holy Cross, which will be discovered within the citadel’s Nice Tower. Though the crown jewels had been eliminated for a brief interval throughout the Hussite Wars, they remained within the Chapel of the Holy Cross till the seventeenth century.
As with most castles within the Czech Republic, the Karlstejn Citadel has seen many phases of reconstruction throughout its lifetime. Initially constructed within the late Gothic type, it was transformed in a Renaissance type throughout the sixteenth century. The current-day citadel is now a neo-Gothic constructing.
Though lots of the rooms are off-limits to guests, you’ll see the Imperial Palace, Corridor of Knights, Chapel of St. Nicholas, the Royal Bed room, and the Chapel of the Holy Cross. Contained in the chapel, you’ll discover a assortment of 129 14th-century work by Grasp Theodoric – the biggest portrait gallery within the nation.
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7. Konopiste Citadel
Famed for being the final residence of Franz Ferdinand, the Konopiste Citadel is as wealthy in historical past as it’s in magnificence. It was initially constructed in 1280 within the type of a French citadel with cylindrical towers, ornate gates, and even a drawbridge. All through the centuries, it went via completely different Renaissance, Baroque, faux-historical phases.
Franz Ferdinand purchased the property in 1887 and closely transformed the citadel and surrounding space. Certainly one of his most notable contributions was with the transform of the citadel gardens; he added greenhouses, rose bushes, and a number of other Italian-style statues. After his assassination in 1914, the citadel was taken over by the federal government and was a public monument.
The citadel stays in the identical situation as Franz Ferdinand left it. Guests can see his personal rooms, together with his condominium, searching assortment, and a capturing corridor with transferring targets. There’s even the Obizzi-Este assortment, the third-largest assortment of medieval weapons and armory in Europe.
- Handle: 256 01 Benešov
- Nearest metropolis: Prague
- Nearest citadel: Karlstejn Citadel
8. Orlik Citadel
Perched excessive atop a rocky cliff, the Orlik Citadel looms over the peaceable Vltava River. The primary recorded point out of the citadel dates again to 1230 when it was only a easy picket citadel. A number of centuries later, it was transformed right into a stone citadel and handed over to the rich Schwarzenberg household, who used it as their predominant residence. To today, the Orlik Citadel remains to be managed by the Schwarzenberg household.
You’ll be able to entry the citadel by crossing a stone bridge that extends throughout a moat. The inside of the citadel was inbuilt an Empire type, besides the Gothic type Hunter’s Corridor and chapel. Probably the most spectacular rooms, together with the Larger and Lesser Knight’s Halls, the Empire Saloon, the Library, and the Gun Hall, are situated on the citadel’s predominant stage.
Subsequent to the citadel, you’ll discover the spectacular English park, which covers roughly 350 acres. Along with the luxurious gardens, Orlik Citadel additionally options an unique fuchsias greenhouse.
9. Bezdez Citadel
Bezdez Citadel is taken into account one of the vital influential Gothic constructions within the Czech Republic. It’s located atop the phonolite hill of Velky Bezdez, virtually 2,000 toes above sea stage, and boasts sweeping views of the luxurious, inexperienced valleys beneath. All through its historical past, it’s been a jail, a Benedictine monastery, and most just lately, a pilgrimage retreat throughout the Romantic motion.
Like many castles within the nation, a lot of the rooms are off-limits to guests. Nevertheless, the royal palace, burgrave’s home, and the distinctive early Gothic Chapel are a number of the highlights that stay open to the general public. The chapel is of basic Hessen type. On the time, it was believed to be one of the vital spectacular inventive constructions within the nation.
For a number of the finest views of the encircling panorama, you can too go to the Knight’s Corridor on the highest flooring of the nice tower. From right here, you’ll be handled to dramatic views over Macha Lake, the Krkonose Mountains, and even the spires of Prague’s St. Vitus Cathedral (on a transparent day, after all.)
10. Bouzov Citadel
The historical past of Bouzov Citadel will not be as exceptional as different castles within the Czech Republic, however its stately construction and ornate inside make it among the finest castles within the nation to go to. Constructed within the early 14th-century, Bouzov Citadel was used as a fortress to observe the incoming commerce route. Sadly, the citadel’s predominant construction was burned to the bottom in 1558 and remained uninhabited for over 100 years.
Presently, the Bouzov Citadel is of the Romantic Neo-gothic type. The buildings on-site are clustered in a horseshoe form, with a 190-foot watchtower protruding from the middle of the complicated. On the within, it’s furnished with lavish paintings and custom-made furnishings, sourced from a non-public assortment from Eugen von Habsburg and the Teutonic Knights. The whole citadel is protected by a moat and might solely be accessed when the drawbridge is down.
For those who suppose Bouzov Citadel appears to be like acquainted, you aren’t mistaken: the citadel’s spectacular, fairy-tale-like construction will be seen in dozens of Czech films and TV exhibits.v
11. Kokorin Citadel
Regardless of its small measurement, Kokorin Citadel is without doubt one of the most stunning castles to go to within the Czech Republic. Situated in the midst of a nature reserve surrounded by the Kokorin Valley, the Kokorin Citadel boasts dramatic views from each nook. Though it was initially constructed within the 14th-century, it was destroyed throughout the Hussite Wars. Reconstruction of the citadel didn’t happen till the 1900s (a number of centuries later.)
The citadel itself is barely two tales tall, however the imposing cylindrical protection tower is noticeably taller. Because of its younger age, the inside of the citadel solely incorporates replicas of conventional furnishings. Nevertheless, the paintings, weaponry, and ceramic decorations are thought-about to be originals. After the quick tour, you’ll have the ability to spend just a few hours soaking within the spectacular panorama or climbing alongside the rocky outcrops surrounding the citadel.
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