Discover the Enchanting Czech Castles and Chateaux: A Journey Through Italian Nobility in 2025
The Year of Italian Nobility: Discover Art, History, and Mediterranean Flavors
The National Heritage Institute, responsible for preserving the historic monuments, castles, and chateaux of Czechia, has an enduring tradition of highlighting a noble family each year. This time around, the focus is on the heritage of Italian aristocracy in the Czech lands. Three noble families—the Collalto, Colloredo, and Piccolomini—have significantly influenced Czech chateaux, leaving behind not only a legacy of refined artistic sensibility but also the enchanting allure of southern Europe. Visitors to Uherčice Chateau will be treated to the unveiling of the beautifully restored Angel Corridor, while those visiting Opočno can anticipate enjoying Neapolitan paintings, rose festivities, and a special ice cream day. In Náchod, guests can engage in fencing exercises, partake in evening tours, and savor a variety of culinary delights. The pinnacle of this celebrations will be the Castle and Chateau Night on August 23, where Uherčice will transform into a vibrant setting reminiscent of a Baroque feast, complete with dazzling light shows, music, and dancing.
This year, Prague, the capital city, offers an enriching cultural experience that spans nearly half of Bohemia. The exhibition titled The Famous & Navigable Vltava will be hosted at the Riding School of Prague Castle from September to December 2025, exploring the river as a vital cultural artery through the ages. This exhibition will serve as the symbolic centerpiece of a year-round initiative in 2025 that connects iconic landmarks along this important Czech river—from its source in the serene Šumava Mountains to where it merges with the Elbe River near Mělník. Attendees will have the opportunity to view the original manuscript of the symphonic poem Vltava by the renowned composer Bedřich Smetana, alongside his personal diaries and historical documents related to the premiere of this landmark musical piece.
CENTRAL BOHEMIA: A Journey into the World of Equestrian Culture and Tavern Life
Karlova Koruna Chateau is set to unveil its magnificent riding hall and stables, featuring a new multimedia exhibition that delves into the rich horse breeding tradition of the Kinský family. Visitors can tour the historic stables and carriage house, which now proudly displays a newly restored early 19th-century carriage. In Dobříš, the alluring Orangery beckons with five exhibitions and enchanting evening park tours. For the first time, the chateau complex in Neustupov will allow public access, showcasing its Gothic cellars, vibrant frescoes, and fascinating stories of its past owners. The Dětenice resort is launching a series of themed food festivals along with evening performances at its lively medieval tavern.
SOUTH BOHEMIA: Discovering the Mirror Hall and Intriguing Counterfeit Currency
At the state chateau of Český Krumlov, visitors can look forward to the Renaissance and Baroque Apartments tour, which will for the first time feature the Mirror Hall. This captivating space, embellished with illusionary paintings and grand mirrors, previously served as a venue for concerts and dances, in addition to functioning as a library and temporary theater. Starting in late April 2025, the Bellarie Summer House in the Castle Garden will also be opened to the public, representing a rare and valuable Rococo garden structure, the only one of its kind in Czechia. Rožmberk Castle is rejuvenating rooms that recall the history of the Buquoy family. In this renovation, the individual rooms have been restored to replicate the Buquoy Family Museum, which was originally established in the mid-19th century. Each room reveals unique stories of different Buquoy family members. Additionally, for the first time, Třeboň Chateau will unveil its Garden Wing, showcasing historical puppets adorned in period costumes. In Telč, visitors can explore works by the artist Jan Zrzavý, while at Jindřichův Hradec Chateau, summer visitors will have the rare chance to delve into the Romanesque cellars and the chambers of the original ladies’ quarters! Švihov will present a winter rendition of the beloved fairy tale Cinderella—a favorite in Germany and Norway—and at Rabí, you can marvel at archaeological discoveries, including fascinating medieval counterfeit coins.
WEST BOHEMIA: Glorious Relics and Majestic Attire
The enigmatic chateau of Bečov nad Teplou is celebrating the 40th anniversary of the discovery of the Reliquary of Saint Maurus, currently on display, with a captivating exhibition of Baroque relics called The Cult of Holy Bodies, alongside the opening of a newly restored dining room in the chateau. Meanwhile, Horšovský Týn will host a summer exhibition of liturgical objects right within its authentic Gothic chapel, complemented by another exhibition titled When Service Had Style, showcasing an array of items from children’s servant uniforms to the oldest preserved livery in Europe! One noteworthy feature of Červené Poříčí Chateau is its greenhouse, still in use for its original purpose of nurturing citrus fruits and fig trees through the winter months.
EAST BOHEMIA: Culinary Adventures in Chateau Kitchens
At Kunětická hora Castle, guests can explore the newly restored areas that narrate the dramatic story of the transformation from a ruin to a majestic castle throughout the 20th and 21st centuries. At Litomyšl Chateau, while ongoing renovations are taking place, themed guided tours are already available. Set to debut this summer, an intriguing new route will include the Chateau Kitchen and Tower. Slatiňany Chateau, having undergone significant reconstruction in recent times, has fully restored its historic stove, spit, and grill in the chateau kitchen, which is now fully operational. This year, it will host lectures and tours focused on historical gastronomy.
NORTH BOHEMIA: New Exhibits and Treasures Reclaimed
Bezděz Castle is bringing refreshing changes to its chapel and the Baroque sacristy, while Grabštejn Castle is unveiling new areas, including the Small Courtyard which features an interactive archaeological exhibit. Lemberk Chateau will pay homage to the notable Zdislava, celebrating thirty years since her canonization, while Zákupy Chateau is introducing new tour routes that cover the restored stables and interiors, all featuring the exhibition titled Forgotten Chateaux, which revives the narratives surrounding noble residences in the vicinity that have vanished from the historical record.
VYSOČINA: Chateaux Echoing Italian Elegance
Telč is not only welcoming back paintings by the prominent artist Jan Zrzavý, returning after more than two decades, but also presenting a vibrant program as part of the Year of Italian Nobility previously mentioned. Standard chateau tours will include access to previously off-limits rooms and chambers. Furthermore, at the chateau in Náměšť nad Oslavou, there will be a commemoration of the 200th anniversary of the passing of Italian composer Antonio Salieri, a friend of the local chateau administrator and a figure forever linked to the life of composer W. A. Mozart. Their famous rivalry was captivatingly portrayed in the Oscar-winning film Amadeus by director Miloš Forman.
MORAVIA AND SILESIA: Tracing the Path of an Assassination and Savoring Italian Pizza
Janovice u Rýmařova Chateau is introducing a new tour route dedicated to František of Harrach and the Sarajevo assassination that set off the First World War. In Hradec nad Moravicí, visitors will have access to the Hunting Rooms and the Armoury for the very first time. The Michal Mine in Ostrava has created a scenic route titled A Miner’s Journey to Work and Facilities. On August 23, 2025, the highly anticipated Castle and Chateau Night at Uherčice Chateau will represent the grand climax of the entire Year of Italian Nobility celebrated across Czech castles and chateaux. During the day, guests will be dazzled with performances by dancers clad in period attire. In the arcaded courtyard, you can indulge in authentic Italian pizza, refreshing ice cream, and delicious cocktails inspired by the sun-kissed Mediterranean. As night descends, the enchanting atmosphere will transport you back in time with historic melodies and candlelight. The evening will culminate in a breathtaking light display.
