Czech castles and chateaux reopen this weekend to kick off 2023 season

Castles, chateaux, and other landmarks across the Czech Republic are reopening after a winter break to kick off the 2023 tourism season this weekend. Many of them are kicking off the season with special events dedicated to Easter, which will be celebrated next weekend.

The castles reopening this weekend include the Kunětice Mountain Castle in the Pardubice region of the Czech Republic, which will be unveiled by the National Monuments Institute following a lengthy four-year restoration. The castle's Jurkovič Palace reopens today, while the fully-restored castle palace will debut on May 5.

Karlštejn Castle, which has also been undergoing a lengthy renovation courtesy of the National Monuments Institute, will reopen its Imperial Palace from April 21.

Last year, a total of 3.4 million people visited state-owned landmarks during the tourist season, and 3.8 million people over the full year, down from 5.3 million people in 2019. Many castles and chateaux in the country are operated under private owners, and will also be reopening from April.

This month, landmarks such as the romantic Chyše Castle in Karlovy Vary, Karlova Koruna Castle in Chlumec nad Cidlinou, Kvasiny Chateau in Rychnovsk, the stunning lakeside Blatná Castle in South Bohemia (pictured at top), and the medieval Kost Castle in Bohemian Paradise will all be reopening after the winter break.

Also in April, Castle Častolovice in eastern Bohemia will open over the Easter weekend, and Dětenice Castle in Bohemian Paradise will offer some special medieval fairy tale-themed tours.

The rococo Dobříš Chateau in central Bohemia, Stránov Chateau near Mladá Boleslav, and the delightfully devilish Houska Castle near Česká Lípa, nicknamed the "gateway to Hell," will also reopen this month.

In Moravia, Chateau Kněžice will reopen this weekend with a special Easter market, and the Dolní Kounice castle in Brno will begin special weekend tours later this month. The Boskovice Castle north of Brno will also reopen this month after the winter break.

The opening of the Czech castle tourist season will culminate next month during the Days of Private Castles and Chateaux, when many landmarks not normally open to the public will open their doors.

A total of nineteen privately-owned castles not usually accessible to the public will be opening their doors this year for the Days of Private Castles and Chateaux from May 25-28; more information can be found from the website of the Association of Castle and Chateau Owners.