Nobility on the Road – Discover a new adventure!

The nobility on the road is the main theme of the sixteenth edition of the National Heritage Institute’s cycle, which will take lovers of monuments and old times back to the “long 19th century”. Travel changed fundamentally during this period. The development of railways, steamships and later also motor and air transport enabled faster movement across Europe and opened up the possibility of exploring distant countries in Asia, Africa and America. Aristocrats on cavalier journeys gradually transformed into modern tourists. Travel was no longer just a matter of prestige, but also a search for new experiences, adventure and personal interests.

The theme of the nobility on the road will come to life at more than forty monuments throughout the Czech Republic, thanks to new and modified tour routes, exhibitions and themed events. You can look forward to interesting stories about distant expeditions, botanical discoveries, hunting trips and collecting passions.

When treasures and living souvenirs were brought back from travels

Travelling was not only about exploring, but also about bringing back souvenirs – and sometimes truly unusual ones. Exotic plants, for example, played a key role. Getting them to Europe was not easy: they had to survive months on ships, secured in special containers and under constant supervision. Aristocrats therefore often hired so-called plant hunters to search for and bring back botanical rarities.

This fascinating story is depicted in the exhibition Camellias & Fragile Beauty on the Road at the Flower Garden in Kroměříž (14 February – 8 March). The cold and warm greenhouses will be transformed into a space where stories are told of plants that travelled thousands of kilometres to become the pride of European orangery gardens. Camellias, orchids and plants from the Far East were symbols of elegance and luxury in the 19th century, and they still adorn historic greenhouses today.

The tradition of camellia cultivation will also be highlighted by the exhibition Camellias in the Age of Industrialists at the castle in Rájec nad Svitavou (6–15 March), which links the flowers with the story of the Industrial Revolution and the personality of Hugo Franz von Salm-Reifferscheidt. His insights from his travels in Europe greatly influenced the development of Moravia and the Brno region.

Nobles as travellers and adventurers

The travels of the nobility often took them outside Europe. From the beginning of the season, Grabštejn Castle will commemorate the expeditions of Karel Podstatský of Liechtenstein to Sudan and Kenya from 1904 to 1914. The panel exhibition will present period maps, photographs and authentic travel items.

The theme of travel also appears at other monuments. At Telč Castle, a newly modified tour route will showcase the lives of the last owners, the Podstatský-Lichtenstein family, including their travels around Europe by car. A new exhibition, Travel Fever, or When the Nobility Set Out into the World, is planned at Červené Poříčí Castle. At Horšovský Týn Castle and Chateau, you can look forward to the reopening of a tour dedicated to Countess Mitsuko Coudenhove-Kalergi, the first Japanese woman to live in Europe.

At Konopiště Castle, the popular theme of travel is linked to the name of the heir to the throne, Franz Ferdinand d’Este. His journey around the world is documented by an extensive collection of photographs, and his diplomatic contacts are illustrated by gifts from various corners of the world, such as the furnishings of the Moorish salon.

At Lysice Castle, you can see memorabilia of frigate captain Erwin Dubský, who visited the Far East and North America. He brought back not only items from Japan and China, but also diaries and photographs from his travels.

The tours at Opočno Castle will introduce you to the collections that Count Josef II Colloredo-Mansfeld brought back from North America and Africa. At Libochovice Castle, you can learn about the Herbersteins’ hunting expeditions to Africa, and at Březnice Castle, you can find out more about the African Salon, which reflects Johann Pálffy’s passion for travel and hunting.

Cabinets of curiosities: the world in castle display cases

A passion for travel often found its way into castle cabinets of curiosities. Perhaps the most famous collections are found at Kynžvart Castle, where Chancellor Metternich gathered around 1,800 artefacts from around the world. Among the most valuable are Egyptian mummies more than three thousand years old and collections of samurai armour.

The Rohans were also interested in travel and collecting: you can admire their collections at Sychrov Castle. They brought back many unique items from Africa, America and Europe, from oil lamps from Pompeii and Jerusalem to Egyptian scarabs and objects from ancient monuments. There is also an oriental lounge with a samurai katana made of ivory.

Travel as inspiration and lifestyle

Aristocratic travel was not just about adventure – it shaped tastes, collecting interests and the appearance of residences. Oriental salons, exotic decorations, souvenirs and entire collections found their way into interiors. Travel became an essential part of lifestyle and a reflection of social outlook.

You can see this for yourself at Hrádek u Nechanic Castle, where the exhibition Rozkvetlý Hrádek – Květiny s vůní dál (Blooming Hrádek – Flowers with the Scent of Distant Lands) will take place from 1 to 10 May. This flower exhibition will take you on an imaginary journey to countries that were visited in the past by representatives of the Harrach count family, such as England, the Netherlands, Italy, France and other European countries that influenced their taste and lifestyle.

The year 2026 will show that the desire to explore the world is not just a modern phenomenon. Just visit one of the monuments involved in the project and let yourself be drawn into stories where the journey itself was the goal and the adventure.