Czech Castles and Chateaux Make Major Announcement: Photos Allowed!

Mirror, mirror on the wall, which is the most photogenic of them all?

We asked our fans on Facebook what castles or chateaux are the most photogenic. You may be surprised to learn that Prague Caste, an old time photo favourite, did not make it onto the list.
The winner of the vote was Červená Lhota chateau. It may be dwarfed by Prague Castle in size, but its picturesque red façade and, most of all, its location on an island in the middle of a lake, make it a photographic prize, especially if you get on a boat and shoot the castle from the calm surface of the water. This would have been possible even before the ban on taking photos was lifted of course, but now you can take a tour of the building’s chambers with your camera in hand and take photos while learning why the chateau is painted red. But don’t expect a romantic tale – a horror story is what you will hear.

Another popular castle is the romantic Hluboká nad Vltavou chateau. Its white walls and fairy-tale towers in a vast park make this manor house one of the most favourite tourist destinations in South Bohemia as well as one of the most photographed sites. And just a half-hour drive from here is Kratochvíle chateau. There you will also appreciate being allowed to take photos: the best vantage point from which to enjoy the view of the perfectly symmetrical garden is from the inside of the building, and when looking over the garden, you will definitely want to take a picture.

The photos that you will take during your visit to Karlštejn will look like they were taken by a pro. This medieval castle, elegantly nestled among the green hills of Central Bohemia, is a top tourist destination, in part due to its close proximity to Prague (a half-hour train ride). In our survey of the most photogenic monuments, Karlštejn won third place behind two chateaux; it can therefore be said that it was the winner among the castles. Your trip will seem all that more special this year because the Czech Republic is holding many events to commemorate the 700^th anniversary of the birth of Charles IV, the king who founded the castle.

You can take back home beautiful photos of the exteriors and interior of other castles and chateaux that were named in our survey. The most popular ones were: Hrádek u Nechanic, the beauty of which makes it a favourite filming location; Bečov nad Teplou, which had long concealed the treasure known as the Reliquary of St Maurus; Konopiště, a chateau where Archduke Franz-Ferdinand of Austria sojourned; and Bouzov, which is a gem adorning the countryside of central Moravia near the historical city of Olomouc. UNESCO heritage sites, such as Český Krumlov, Valtice and Telč, are also popular.  

What are the rules for taking photos?

Despite the lifting of the ban on taking photos, certain rules have to be followed nevertheless. The basic one is the obligation to be courteous and considerate to other visitors. It is thus better to turn of the sound if you have a smartphone and not delay the tour group with dozens of attempts to capture just the right angle of an old vase in the royal chambers. The ban on taking photographs using a tripod, selfie stick or flash continues to be in force, however. It is also important to note that the castellans can decide to not allow photographs to be taken in certain areas, especially for safety and security reasons. So, the only image of the Chapple of the Holy Cross at Karlštejn castle that you will be able to take with you is the one in your mind.