Český Krumlov Castle
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UNESCOGothic
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Hluboká Castle
Hluboká nad Vltavou, South Bohemian
Neo-GothicWindsor-styleSouth BohemiaEnglish park
Description
- Directly inspired by Windsor Castle — unique in the Czech Republic
- Lavish interiors: carved wooden ceilings, tapestries, and 13,000-piece Delft tile collection
- 1.9 km² English landscape park free to explore
- South Bohemian Gallery (Aleš) housed in the former riding hall
- Only 11 km from České Budějovice — easy to combine with a city visit
Rising above a bend in the Vltava river in South Bohemia, Hluboká Castle is one of the most recognisable silhouettes in the Czech Republic. Its brilliant white towers and battlements, mirrored in the surrounding parkland, were deliberately modelled on Windsor Castle in England — making it immediately distinctive among Central European chateaux. The site sits on a promontory roughly 11 kilometres north of České Budějovice, and the combination of river valley views and manicured English landscape park creates a setting that feels transported from the British countryside into Bohemia.
The first fortification on this rocky outcrop dates to 1285, when a royal castle was founded by order of the Bohemian king. Over the following centuries the structure passed through numerous hands, including the Habsburgs, before being acquired by the powerful Schwarzenberg family in 1660. The family held it for nearly three hundred years, but the transformation into the romantic Neo-Gothic chateau visible today took place between 1840 and 1871 under the direction of Princess Eleonora Schwarzenberg, who commissioned the remodelling in the English style. Architects Franziska Beer and later Franz Beer oversaw the reconstruction, which consumed enormous resources and resulted in over 140 rooms and a park covering nearly two square kilometres.
The interiors are among the most lavishly decorated in Bohemia. Carved wooden ceilings, thousands of pieces of Delft blue-and-white tilework, Flemish and Dutch tapestries, and an armoury holding hundreds of historical weapons make the state rooms a remarkable document of nineteenth-century aristocratic taste. The Schwarzenberg family's art collection is housed separately in the former riding hall, now operating as the South Bohemian Gallery (Alšova jihočeská galerie), which holds one of the most important regional art collections in the country. The gallery is independent of the castle tour and has its own admission.
Hluboká nad Vltavou sits at a convenient crossroads for exploring South Bohemia. České Budějovice — famous for Budvar beer and its baroque town square — is only a short drive away, and Český Krumlov, another UNESCO-listed gem, lies roughly 40 kilometres to the south. The English landscape park surrounding the castle is freely accessible year-round and rewards a slow walk even for visitors who do not take the interior tour. Hluboká is also one of South Bohemia's most popular wedding venues — civil ceremonies are held in the castle's state rooms, with enquiries handled through the castle administration.
Founded
13th century
Style
Neo-Gothic
Region
South Bohemian
Plan your visit
Everything you need to know before visiting the castle
Opening Hours
Jan–Mar
10:00–15:00
Limited winter tour only. Check website for exact days.
Apr–Jun
9:00–17:00
Closed: Monday
Jul–Aug
9:00–18:00
Closed: Monday
Sep–Oct
9:00–17:00
Closed: Monday
Nov–Dec
10:00–15:00
Limited winter tour only. Check website for exact days.
* Park and grounds free and open year-round. Interiors by guided tour only. English tours run less frequently than Czech tours — check times on arrival. Multiple separate ticket routes cover different parts of the castle.
Tickets & Tours
Route A — Representation Rooms
Main floor: dining rooms, library, armoury
60 min
- Adult
- 380 CZK
- Youth (18–24) / Senior
- 190 CZK
- Child (6–17)
- 130 CZK
Route B — Private Apartments
First floor: personal rooms of the Schwarzenberg family
60 min
- Adult
- 320 CZK
- Youth (18–24) / Senior
- 190 CZK
- Child (6–17)
- 130 CZK
Castle Tower
30 min
- Adult
- 150 CZK
- Concession
- 100 CZK
* Panoramic views over the Vltava valley and park.
Free entry: Park and grounds free year-round. Children under 5 free.
* The castle uses a split-ticket system — Route A and Route B cover different wings and require separate tickets. Many visitors find Route A sufficient. English-language tours operate roughly once per hour; Czech tours run continuously.
Getting There
Bus / Tram
Regular bus from České Budějovice bus station, takes about 20 minutes.
Buses run frequently.
20 min
Car
Drive from České Budějovice via Route 105, about 10 minutes.
From Prague via D3 motorway, approximately 1 hour 45 minutes.
105 min
On foot
A small tourist train runs in high season from the town car park to the castle entrance (approx. €3 return).
10 min
Parking
Parking available
Main car park in the town below the castle, next to the supermarket. Paid parking. A 10-minute walk uphill or hop on the tourist train (high season only).
Visitor Tips
Check the English tour schedule before visiting — they run roughly once per hour and timing your arrival around one saves a long wait.
The split-ticket system is confusing — decide which routes you want at the ticket office rather than buying everything at once.
The park is beautiful and completely free — worth an hour even if you skip the interiors.
Easily combined with Český Krumlov (40 km south) for a full South Bohemia day trip.
No photography inside the castle interiors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about visiting this castle
How do I get to Hluboká Castle from Prague?▾
The easiest route from Prague is by car via the D3 motorway towards České Budějovice, then follow signs to Hluboká nad Vltavou — the drive takes approximately 1 hour 45 minutes. By public transport, take a bus or train to České Budějovice (roughly 2 hours), then a local bus from the main bus station to Hluboká, which adds about 20 minutes. Buses run frequently throughout the day.
When is Hluboká Castle open and what are the prices?▾
The castle is open year-round, though hours vary by season: April to October generally 9:00–17:00 (18:00 in July–August), and shorter winter hours from 10:00–15:00 in January–March and November–December. The castle is closed on Mondays outside of July and August. Route A (the main floor) costs 380 CZK for adults, Route B (private apartments) costs 320 CZK, and the tower is 150 CZK. The park and grounds are always free.
Can I visit Hluboká Castle without a guide?▾
The castle interiors are accessible by guided tour only — you cannot explore on your own. Czech-language tours depart roughly every 30 minutes, while English tours run approximately once per hour. It is worth checking the schedule at the ticket office on arrival and planning your time accordingly. The park and castle exterior, however, are completely free to explore independently year-round.
Why does Hluboká Castle look like Windsor Castle?▾
The resemblance is intentional. In the 1840s, Princess Eleonora of Schwarzenberg — who had visited England and admired Windsor Castle — commissioned a complete reconstruction of the existing chateau in the English Tudor-Gothic style. The project ran from 1840 to 1871 and was one of the most ambitious aristocratic building projects in nineteenth-century Bohemia. The result is a deliberate homage rather than an accidental similarity, though the interiors reflect Schwarzenberg tastes rather than being a copy of any English palace.
What can you see inside Hluboká Castle?▾
The castle is divided into two separate tour routes. Route A covers the main representation rooms on the ground floor — including the dining rooms, a library with thousands of volumes, and an armoury with an extensive collection of historical weapons and armour. Route B focuses on the private apartments of the Schwarzenberg family on the first floor, which retain personal furnishings and a more intimate atmosphere. Both routes feature carved wooden ceilings, Flemish tapestries, and a remarkable collection of around 13,000 pieces of original Delft tilework.
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