Czech Castles and Chateaux 2025

The National Heritage Institute, which looks after most of Czechia’s historic monuments, castles and chateaux, continues the tradition of dedicating each year to one noble family. This year is devoted to the legacy of Italian aristocracy in the Czech lands. Three families – Collalto, Colloredo and Piccolomini – left their mark on Czech chateaux with not only their refined artistic taste but also the charm of southern Europe. Uherčice Chateau will unveil the restored Angel Corridor, visitors to Opočno can look forward to Neapolitan paintings, rose celebrations and an ice cream day, while in Náchod, you’ll experience fencing, evening tours and a tasting of culinary specialities. The highlight will be the Castle and Chateau Night on 23 August, when Uherčice will come alive with the atmosphere of a Baroque feast, complete with a light show, music and dancing.

This year, the capital city Prague offers a cultural experience that extends practically across half of Bohemia. The exhibition The Famous & Navigable Vltava at the Riding School of Prague Castle (September to December 2025) will explore the river as a cultural route through the centuries. The exhibition will become the symbolic heart of a year-round project which in 2025 links landmarks along this significant Czech river—from its source in the Šumava Mountains to its confluence with the River Elbe near Mělník. At the exhibition, you will also see the original manuscript of the symphonic poem Vltava by the world-renowned composer Bedřich Smetana, along with his personal diaries and documents of that period from the premiere of the symphonic piece.

Karlova Koruna Chateau is opening the impressive spaces of its riding hall and stables, where you’ll find a new multimedia exhibition on the horse breeding tradition of the Kinský family, and you can explore the historic stables and carriage house, now featuring a newly restored early 19th-century carriage. In Dobříš, the Orangery welcomes you with five exhibitions and evening tours of the park. And for the first time, the chateau complex in Neustupov will open to the public, revealing Gothic cellars, frescoes, and the stories of its former owners. The Dětenice resort is launching a series of themed food festivals and evening shows in its popular medieval tavern.

At the state chateau of Český Krumlov, the Renaissance and Baroque Apartments tour route will for the first time include the Mirror Hall. This impressive space, adorned with illusionist paintings and large mirrors, once served as a concert and dance hall, but also as a library or temporary theatre stage. From the end of April 2025, the Bellarie Summer House in the Castle Garden will also be newly accessible. It is a rare and highly valuable Rococo garden structure, the only one of its kind in Czechia. The majestic Rožmberk Castle is once again bringing life into rooms that recall the Buquoy family. Through this transformation, the individual rooms have regained the appearance of the Buquoy Family Museum, originally established in the mid-19th century. Each room tells the story of a different member of the family. For the first time in its history, Třeboň Chateau is opening the Garden Wing, where visitors will find historical puppets in period costumes. In Telč, you will newly see works by the painter Jan Zrzavý, and at Jindřichův Hradec Chateau, summer visitors will have the opportunity to explore the Romanesque cellars and the halls of the original ladies' quarters! Švihov will recall the winter version of the legendary fairy tale Cinderella, beloved also in Germany and Norway, and at Rabí, you can admire archaeological finds – including fascinating medieval counterfeit coins.

The mysterious chateau of Bečov nad Teplou is marking the 40th anniversary of the discovery of the Reliquary of Saint Maurus, which is on display there, with an exhibition of Baroque relics titled The Cult of Holy Bodies, and will also open the newly restored chateau dining room. In Horšovský Týn, a summer exhibition of liturgical objects will be held directly in the authentic Gothic chapel, along with another exhibition titled When Service Had Style. There, you will see everything from children’s servant uniforms to the oldest preserved livery in Europe! A true highlight of Červené Poříčí Chateau is the, which the chateau’s caretakers still use for its original purpose – overwintering citrus and fig trees.

At Kunětická hora Castle, the newly restored spaces will present the story of the restoration and transformation of a ruin into a majestic castle over the course of the 20th and 21st centuries. At Litomyšl Chateau, renovation works are ongoing, but it already offers themed guided tours. In summer, an intriguing new route will be added: the Chateau Kitchen and Tower. Slatiňany Chateau, which has undergone major reconstruction in recent years, has newly restored the historic stove, spit and grill in the chateau kitchen – all fully functional – and this year, it will host lectures and tours focused on historical gastronomy.

Bezděz Castle is bringing new life to the interiors of the chapel and the Baroque sacristy, while Grabštejn Castle is opening up new spaces, including the Small Courtyard with an interactive archaeological exhibition. Lemberk Chateau will honour the renowned Zdislava, thirty years after her canonisation, while Zákupy Chateau will introduce new tour routes – the restored stables and interiors featuring the Forgotten Chateaux exhibition, which brings back to life the stories of noble residences in the surrounding area that disappeared from the map long ago or more recently.

Telč offers not only the return of paintings by the artist Jan Zrzavý, back after more than 20 years, but also a rich programme as part of the Year of Italian Nobility, mentioned above. The standard chateau tours will now include rooms and chambers that were previously inaccessible. And at the chateau in Náměšť nad Oslavou, you will commemorate the 200th anniversary of the death of Italian composer Antonio Salieri, who was a friend of the local chateau administrator and is known from the life story of composer W. A. Mozart. Their alleged rivalry was brought to the silver screen by director Miloš Forman in the Oscar-winning film Amadeus.

Janovice u Rýmařova Chateau presents a new tour route dedicated to František of Harrach and the Sarajevo assassination that triggered the First World War. Hradec nad Moravicí will, for the first time, open the Hunting Rooms and the Armoury. The Michal Mine in Ostrava has prepared a scenic route titled A Miner’s Journey to Work and Facilities. On 23 August 2025, Uherčice Chateau will host the highlight of the entire Year of Italian Nobility at Czech castles and chateaux – the Castle and Chateau Night! During the day, you will be captivated by performances from dancers in period costumes. In the arcaded courtyard, you can enjoy authentic Italian pizza, refreshing ice cream and delicious cocktails inspired by the Mediterranean sun. As evening falls, the atmosphere will transport you into the past with historic music and candlelight. The unforgettable evening will conclude with a spectacular light show.