Christmas at Czech castles and châteaux

The Advent, or four weeks before Christmas, is when everyone prepares for the winter holiday. And it is also a time when you can visit Czech castles and chateaux and enjoy the festive atmosphere. Many landmarks have prepared festive decorations and special programmes for Advent. You can see a snow-covered chateau park, buy gifts at a craft market, or discover old customs and traditions during special guided tours. Many places will also be open during the holiday and at the end of the year when you can go on a New Year’s Day tour.

Large Gothic castle Karlštejn

The iconic Gothic Karlštejn Castle, will be adorned with festive Advent decorations, evoking the Christmas atmosphere and traditions of times past. Visitors can experience this special unique seasonal ambiance on the standard tour route, The Imperial Residence of Charles IV, and gain insight into the holiday customs associated with this historic setting. Tours will be available from 29 November 2024 to 5 January 2025, every Friday through Sunday. Don’t miss this opportunity to celebrate the season in the splendid surroundings of the Imperial Palace.

A princely Christmas at Třeboň Château

Drink in the magical Christmas-festooned atmosphere of this château amidst the wholly unique UNESCO-listed pond landscape, which was a favourite Christmas residence of the famous Czech-German-Austrian noble House of Schwarzenberg. Besides the special tours, which you can take from 30 November 2024 to 22 December 2024 and 28 December to 3 January (from Thursday to Sunday), the château will also host Christmas sales exhibition of handmade Christmas decorations (from 30 November to 7 December). You can also enjoy the festive atmosphere at the Advent château markets in the courtyard: on 7 and 8 December from 10.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m.

Christmas and New Year at Sychrov Château

Spice up the week between Christmas and New Year by visiting a beautiful example of neo-Gothic architecture! Rooms decked out in festive decorations rooms, Christmas trees, hand-blown and painted ornaments, period gifts, and the smell of freshly baked cookies... You can enjoy all this at Sychrov Château, which is opening its doors to all lovers of the Christmas spirit from 27 December 2024 to 1 January 2025. The tours are without a guide, so you can enjoy the interiors of the fairytale palace at your own pace.

Christmas tour at Valtice Château: a UNESCO jewel

From 11 November to 22 December you can take a tour without a guide of the period apartment of Franz I, Prince of Liechtenstein, decked out in all its Advent glory, at Valtice Château, which is part of the Lednice–Valtice Cultural Landscape, a UNESCO Heritage Site. The interiors of the famous family’s Baroque palace will be decorated with 10 Christmas trees and thousands of handmade Christmas decorations from glass workshops all over Czechia.

You’ll get to admire lots of period decorations, as well as some fine UNESCO blown beads from Rautis, Art Nouveau collections from the Koulier workshop, ornaments with a retro feel, and a host of other sparkling finery. On the Advent Sundays falling on 8 and 15 December, you’ll also have the chance to make your own Christmas decorations – however, you need to book yourself a place in the château workshop well in advance!

Christmas with a touch of old England at Hrádek u Nechanic Castle

The romantic Hrádek u Nechanic Castle, built in the Windsor Gothic style, comes alive with an unforgettable magical atmosphere in the run-up to Christmas. The romantic palace will be decked out in its festive finery from 30 November to 15 December, when it is open to the public every weekend, and offers two tours every weekday, at 12.00 and 2.00 p.m.

During the Advent walks the guides will tell you about the first decorations they put on the tree, what used to be served for dinner on Christmas Eve, and lots of other interesting things about the most beautiful holidays of the year, and you’ll also get to admire dozens of nutcrackers and nativity scenes. The castle kitchen is also open during Advent, and you’ll be able to taste real English punch. On Fridays 29 November, 6 and 13 December, you can also experience the unique thrill of the castle by candlelight – you need to book for evening tours.

Advent Days in Jindřichův Hradec

The castle and chateau in Jindřichův Hradec in South Bohemia is a time-tested classic as far as the Advent goes. The theatre, dance, and music performances, the market, and artisans are ready. Enjoy the Advent with the majestic castle and chateau in the backdrop on the weekend of 7 and 8 December.

Royal Advent at the Křivoklát Castle

The castle gate of Křivoklát, a medieval castle in Central Bohemia, one of the most important and largest castles of Czech princesses and kings, breathes with Christmas atmosphere. You will find artisan stands there on the weekend of 7/8 and 14/15 December. You can look forward to the traditional Old Bohemian Market with delicacies such as dried fruit, mulled wine, Christmas cookies, or sausages. Visitors will be able to explore the castle interiors at their own pace.

Advent tours of the Villa Stiassni: A Christmas tree and a Hanukkah candlestick under one roof

Even though the Brno Villa Stiassni is not a castle or a chateau, it does resemble one in a way. It was built much later than chateaux. At the times when the higher social class did not desire large luxurious residences but built much more civilian structures. The elegant interiors with an atmosphere of the 1920s and 1930s in combination with traditional decorations – that is what visitors can expect during the Advent and Christmas tours, including the Christmas tree decorated with replicas of period Christmas ornaments made of blown glass pearls, which are inscribed in the prestigious UNESCO list, and you can also look forward to an exhibition of period toys.

The tradition of Christmas celebration in the villa started at the times of the First Republic, even though it was built by a family of a Jewish textile entrepreneur. How is it possible and how did they celebrate Christmas in the villa in the 1930s? Come and see for yourself on a special tour of this villa in the heart of the South Moravian city, which will be held from 29 November 16 December and from 27 to 31 December.