Czech castles and chateaux in the snow: where to visit
Snowfall on Friday transformed much of the Czech Republic into a winter wonderland. While the mountains are drawing visitors for winter sports, historic sites also take on a special charm at this time of year. And judging by last year’s figures, interest in Czech heritage sites is clearly on the rise – so which castles and chateaux are the most popular, and which can be visited year-round?
Heritage sites managed by the Czech National Heritage Institute (NPÚ) welcomed around 4.3 million visitors last year, a six percent increase on the previous year. This figure includes castles, chateaux, churches, historic gardens, villas, and industrial heritage sites, attracting both Czech and international tourists.
Lednice Chateau in South Moravia topped the list with 328,000 visitors, followed by Český Krumlov Castle in South Bohemia, and Hluboká nad Vltavou Chateau, also in South Bohemia. All of these offer special winter experiences from February 1 onwards – a great way to explore them without the usual crowds.
The popular Karlštejn Castle, near Prague and the imperial residence of the famous Czech king Charles IV, offers a similar off-season charm and can be visited even in January.
Two monuments recorded particularly notable growth last year. Trosky Castle in the Bohemian Paradise region saw record visitor numbers, boosted by the release of the second part of the computer game Kingdom Come: Deliverance, part of which is set amid the castle’s dramatic medieval ruins. However, Trosky only reopens to visitors in April, at the start of the main tourist season.
Zákupy Chateau, a former summer residence of the Habsburgs, doubled its visitor numbers thanks to the reopening of a newly restored section of its Baroque courtyard. Efforts are also underway to revitalise the surrounding park. This hidden gem can be visited from January 10 onwards.
Other castles and chateaux open before the main tourist season include Křivoklát Castle, as well as Sychrov, Litomyšl, Třeboň, and Telč Chateaux – perfect destinations for a winter visit.
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