Revealed: Czechia's most-visited heritage sites and castles

The National Heritage Institute (NPU) reported today that over 4.2 million people visited castles, chateaus, and other historical sites managed by the organization in 2023, a 10-percent increase from the previous year. Lednice, Valtice, and Hluboká chateaus were the most popular destinations, continuing their tradition as top attractions. The NPU attributes this growth to the opening of newly restored spaces and sightseeing tours.

The NPU manages over 100 monuments, including monasteries, churches, technical structures, and castles and chateaus. Last year, 400,000 more people visited these sites compared to 2022, and the number of visitors in 2019 exceeded 5.27 million.

Lednice State Chateau in South Moravia remained the most visited monument, attracting 349,139 visitors. Český Krumlov State Castle and Chateau came in second with around 243,000 tourists, followed by the State Chateau of Hluboká, with over 201,000 visitors. The iconic Karlstejn castle, southwest of Prague, saw almost 175,500 visitors, while the Valtice Chateau, located near Lednice, was visited by 131,000 people.

The most significant increase in visitor interest was seen at Kuneticka hora Castle in eastern Bohemia, managed by the NPU's conservationists. The monument, which opened its previously inaccessible northern wing to the public last spring, welcomed 42,347 tourists in 2023, three times more than in 2022.

Last year also saw the reopening of Telč Chateau (in Vysočina) following extensive renovations, which attracted almost three times the number of visitors at 48,697.

The chateau is now open year-round, along with the Plasy Monastery in Pilsen, which also underwent renovations. These updates have made new spaces and sightseeing routes available to the public, contributing to the increase in visitors.

The NPU, the largest organization funded by the Ministry of Culture, manages a diverse range of monuments that showcase the rich history and culture of the Czech Republic. With its continued efforts to preserve and promote these sites, the NPU hopes to see even more visitors in the coming years.

In August 2023, Google's Crystal Pin awards – recognizing the top-rated attractions on Google Maps – were given to the likes of Prague Castle, Karlštejn Castle, and Český Krumlov Castle, along with regional gems like  Hradec nad Moravicí Castle, Kroměříž, and Telč Chateau.