The top 10 castles and chateaus in the Czech Republic

10. Konopiště Castle (Státní zámek Konopiště)
Benešov, Central Bohemia

The name Franz Ferdinand should ring a bell. He was the archduke whose assassination sparked World War I. Konopiště Castle, originally built in the 13th century, was one of his homes, and its interiors have been preserved from that time. There are four tours to choose from ranging from the chapel and armory to hunting trophies. It is close to Prague, and quite photogenic.

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9. Castle Loučeň (Zámek Loučeň)
Loučeń, Central Bohemia

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8: Archbishop’s Chateau and Gardens Kroměříž (Arcibiskupský zámek a zahrady v Kroměříži)
Kroměříž, Zlín region

One of the Czech Republic’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the Archbishop’s Chateau and Gardens in Kroměříž is “an exceptionally complete and well-preserved example of a European Baroque princely residence and its gardens,” according to UNESCO. Scenes from Amadeus and Immortal Beloved were filmed there. The chateau has the second-most valuable painting collection after the National Gallery in Prague.

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7. Valtice Chateau (Státní zámek Valtice)
Valtice, South Moravia

Along with Lednice, the third-most visited chateau, Valtice makes up the Lednice-Valtice Cultural Landscape, which has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996. Valtice was actually part of Austria until 1920. The chateau’s history dates to the 12th century but its current look comes from the 18th and early 19th centuries. The grounds include a colonnade and a Temple to Diana.

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6. Karlštejn Castle (Státní hrad Karlštejn)
Karlštejn, Central Bohemia

Emperor Charles IV built Karlštejn Castle to safeguard the crown jewels and his vast collection of religious relics in 1348. Its look was drastically altered in a heavy-handed neo-Gothic renovation at the end of the 19th century. There are two main tours, plus a tower tour. Reservations are required for the tour of the Holy Cross Chapel and sacred spaces.

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5: Dětenice Chateau (Zámek Dětenice)
Dětenice, Hradec Králové region

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4: Hluboká Castle (Státní zámek Hluboká nad Vltavou)
Hluboká nad Vltavou, South Bohemia

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3: Lednice (Státní zámek Lednice)
Lednice, South Moravia

The counterpart to seventh-ranked Valtice, the chateau at Lednice is part of the same UNESCO World Heritage Site. The main chateau began as a Gothic fort in the 13th century. It was last rebuilt in the 19th century by Austrian Prince Prince Alois II in the English neo-Gothic style as a place to entertain guests in the summer. Among its attractions are a minaret and a grotto. There are eight tours of different parts of the chateau and the grounds.

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2: Český Krumlov Chateau (Státní hrad a zámek Český Krumlov)
Český Krumlov, South Bohemia

The entire town of Český Krumlov has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1992. The center of the town preserves a mix of Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque architecture. The castle was founded by the Lords of Krumlov in the 13th century and then passed through many hands over the centuries. The Baroque theater is the best preserved of its kind in Europe. There are five different tours, and admission to the castle gardens is free.

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1. Prague Castle (Pražský hrad)
Prague

While this hardly qualifies as a day trip from Prague, there is no avoiding the fact that Prague Castle is the most visited location of its type, or of any type, in the Czech Republic. It is a key part of Prague’s UNESCO World Heritage Site, which covers the city center plus the chateau and garden in Průhonice. Prague Castle’s history goes back over a millennium and according to the Guinness Book of World Records, it is the largest coherent castle complex in the world, with an area of almost 70,000 sqm. It can be seen in numerous films including in the background of several shots in Spider-Man: Far From Home. There are three different tour tickets, plus separate admission for exhibitions.

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