Discover the treasures of castles, chateaus and monasteries along the Vltava River from Šumava to Central Povltavia
Vyšší Brod: Monastery and museum
The Cistercian monastery oversees the boaters who board their boats in Vyšší Brod and prepare for a cruise on the river. Visits to the Church of the Assumption, the rococo library, and several other rooms with art and historical collections await you on your tour of this place, which is home to a restored community of monks. Among the precious monuments, the Vyšebrod Madonna and the Cross of Zavis particularly stand out. You can also explore the Postal Museum, which boasts an extensive collection of postal wagons and carriages, in part of the monastery. Play post office and your imagination of the postal service will come alive as you view a variety of letters and parcels, and see stamps in action.
Rosenberg: the White Lady’s Castle
Roughly ten kilometres away, on a rocky outcrop high above the river, you will be welcomed by Rožmberk Castle, where you will delve into the history of the famous Buquoy family on two guided tours. The family owned the estate for several centuries until the end of the Second World War. In the summer, however, the castle’s underground with the museum of throat justice and the executioner’s chamber, where you can also try out demonstrations in addition to the interpretation. You can also try your hand at torture on your friends! The possibility of climbing the Jakobínek tower was first opened to the public after the reconstruction in 2020. After more than 170 steps, you can enjoy a stunning view of the entire area of the Rožmberk double castle and the surrounding area.
Český Krumlov: castle, chateau and town
Some paddling expeditions set aside several days to explore Český Krumlov, because apart from the castle and chateau, the town offers many beautiful places and there is always something to do. The season of the Rotating Auditorium is now underway, and events such as the International Music Festival Český Krumlov and the Festival of Baroque Arts take place in early September. The castle and chateau grounds are extensive and in addition to the historic interiors, you will also be attracted by the castle tower, the garden with a summer house, the aforementioned revolving auditorium, the unique Baroque theatre, the Castle Museum and animal lovers should not miss the bears in the popular local beararium. For water enthusiasts, it is not only the actual floating of the meandering river that is attractive, but also watching the stuntmen from the heart of the river, for example from the Płaszský Bridge or from a nice pub nearby.
The Golden Crown: a medieval monastery by the river
The magical meanders of the river can boggle your mind, so you’ll appreciate a brief stop at the Golden Crown Monastery, one of the most valuable Gothic building complexes in Central Europe. Although the monastery was abolished during the Josephine reforms, it still retains its mysterious atmosphere. The good news for paddlers is that, thanks to its location in the deep Vltava Valley, the monastery is really only a few steps from the river. The sacred route takes you through the three main spiritual areas of the monastery – the Abbot’s Chapel, the Chapel of the Guardian Angels and the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. The second route, The Monastery, focuses on the daily life of the monks in the 18th century. Don’t forget the unique Baroque pharmacy, located in the former monastery kitchen. Among the new features is the Baroque Pharmacy, located in the former dining room of the monastery, where you will see beautiful Baroque shelves, glassware and old bottles. The tour takes place if at least 5 people are present.
Girl’s Stone: the South Bohemian Karlstejn
Meanders also wrap around the ruins of the Gothic castle of Dívčí kámen, but this time not the Vltava: the Lednický Brook flows smoothly through it, so you will have to walk less than a kilometre from the campsite. The Maiden Stone was built by the Rosenbergs in the Middle Ages in the mid-14th century, and was built at the same time as Charles Bridge or Karlstejn. Due to its strategic location, it was never conquered or burned, but it was still abandoned in the 16th century. Zdeňka Tučková, the operator of the Girl’s Stone, suggests that if the Girl’s Stone had not been cared for for many centuries, it would have looked similar to Karlštejn.
Hluboká: the castle of the Proud Princess
In České Budějovice, the Vltava joins the Malše and heads north. Just a few kilometres away and you will find yourself in the fairytale world of the romantic white neo-Gothic castle, Hluboká Castle. You can plan your visit for any time of the year, as the castle is open all year round and offers several sightseeing routes, including an observation tower and a kitchen. It is open daily, except Mondays. If you’re in the area, don’t miss the beautiful chateau park and some of the attractive exhibitions or events at the Alš South Bohemian Gallery, located right in the chateau!
Charles Castle near Purkarec: the hunting castle of the Father of the Fatherland
Behind Hluboká, the Vltava River plunges into the forests. If you are sailing, you can stop after a few kilometres on the left bank and climb up to Karlův hrádek, the ruins of a Gothic hunting castle actually founded by Charles IV. This picturesque ruin had a short life, and after about a hundred years it is no longer talked about. By the end of the 14th century it was already marked as abandoned. It is easy to get here by bike or on foot from Hluboká nad Vltavou along the red hiking trail. The ruins are approximately 2.5 km from the village of Purkarec. During the summer holidays you can also count on regular boat lines to Purkarec. These are the ship Malše and Vojtěch Lanna.
Zvíkov: a fairytale castle by the water
Another castle that is just a few steps away from the boats is Zvíkov. This fortress is located on a high rock above the confluence of the Vltava and Otava rivers, and today it is situated on a peninsula surrounded by water. You can explore the castle on your own without a guide, and you will certainly remember some of the fairy tales that were filmed here; for example, the famous director Alice Nellis filmed her first fairy tale, The Seven Ravens, here. You can also appreciate the architectural art from the time of Premysl Otakar II, the arcaded courtyard and the paintings on the walls. The tour is unguided and has one route. On the ground floor, there is an exhibition focusing on local archaeological finds, followed by a tour of the cellars and upstairs. The north-eastern part of the palace is characterised by terraces on the site of the former royal rooms.
Orlik: the lifestyle of the nobility in the 19th century
Once an eagle’s nest that towered over the Vltava River, today, like Zvíkov, it almost touches the surface of the Orlík dam. Orlík Castle belongs to the Schwarzenbergs and functions as a family museum, full of valuable collections and art objects. The richly furnished castle interiors are an excellent example of the lifestyle of the nobility in the 19th century. The so-called Teska Hall, whose beautifully carved coffered ceiling and wall panelling were created by Jan Teska in 1882-1884, stands out. The opulent Knights’ Hall is also decorated in a romantic spirit. The chateau also features the Empire style from the Napoleonic period, especially in the furniture brought by the aforementioned Karel Schwarzenberg from Paris. Near the castle there is a pier for a steamboat on which you can sail to Zvíkov Castle and then return. There is also an interesting aquarium with freshwater fish.
Ruins of Hunec Castle (Vrškamýk) near Kamýk nad Vlavou
If you are planning a trip to the dams of the Vltava Cascade, don’t forget to visit the remains of Hunec Castle (Vrškamýk). This castle served as asummer residence of the oldest Czech rulers, but after the famous Karlštejn took over its role, it was forgotten. The castle is located between Kamýk nad Vltavou and Zduchovice, and a green hiking trail leads from the centre of Kamýk nad Vltavou to the castle.
It is possible that the castle stopped thriving because of the long distance from Prague – from here it was necessary to travel about seventy kilometres, which took a good two days on horseback. According to another theory, the castle also had poor statics of the perimeter walls and its reconstruction was inappropriate. In any case, around the middle of the 14th century the castle was abandoned and in 1569 it was already mentioned as a ruin. The ruins were used several times as a hiding place for marauding knights who attacked ships sailing on the Vltava River. The legend of the cruel knight Hunec, who mistreated his subjects, also comes from this time. One day he went for a walk in the countryside, but was killed in the woods and his ghost still roams the area today.
