Uncover the Exciting Events Happening at Castles and Châteaux in the Hradec Králové Region This Season

Easter at castles and châteaux

This year, the beginning of the tourist season aligns with the Easter holidays, which means that many places will be open even on Monday, a bit of a rarity. Various historic sites are hosting special events—at Hrádek u Nechanic, visitors can see a thousand beautifully decorated eggs in the old dungeon of Opočno Castle. Also, Ratibořice offers some unique decorations; besides eggs and flowers, guests can enjoy the renowned gingerbread artistry of Mrs. Dana Holmanová.

Changes to the routes at Náchod Castle

Náchod Castle . This year, there are plans to repair the roof of the Administrative Wing, which will involve replacing the roofing material. The repairs will also include work on the chimneys and lightning conductors.

Additionally, Náchod Castle has changed the names of some of its tour routes and added new ones. The basic tour is now named State Rooms; historical sources suggest that the Piccolomini Hall was traditionally wallpapered in blue. The selected tour Private Apartments will feature two historical uniforms belonging to Princes Wilhelm and Friedrich of Schaumburg-Lippe, which have just been installed.

To celebrate International Day for Monuments on April 18, there will be special tours highlighting what life was like at Náchod Castle during the last ownership by the princely family of Schaumburg-Lippe.

Ratibořice will mark three anniversaries

In Ratibořice, there will be special exhibitions and tours throughout the season to commemorate three significant anniversaries: 160 years since the Prussian-Austrian War and the Battle of Hradec Králové, 120 years since the passing of Wilhelm Karl August, Prince of Schaumburg-Lippe, and his daughter-in-law, Crown Princess Louise of Denmark, who both died on April 4, 1906, and 20 years since the death of Leopold, Prince of Schaumburg-Lippe. The first of these special tours is set for April 18.
The Audience Hall in the castle has been equipped with historic Classicist lighting. There is also a refurbishment of facilities within the castle. The main focus of this project will be the repairs of visitor restroom facilities, which will include the installation of a new wastewater treatment plant. Restoration work will also address the heating system.

At Kuks, you can also explore the garden

Kuks Hospital will open for the season on April 1, with all available tour routes ready for visitors. From June through September, there will be additional guided tours that include the garden and surrounding grounds. These tours will take place on weekdays from 9 am to 1 pm, requiring a minimum of twenty participants. The 60-minute tour will provide insights into the garden’s history and the outdoor space, as well as information about gardening practices and the care of this historical garden. Restoration work will commence on the statue of the Great Christian Warrior in the herb garden, and there will also be ongoing restoration of the coffin of Karl von Rothkirch-Panthen.

The cultural events calendar at Kuks is highly diverse. Visitors can anticipate concerts held in the church (the first one is on April 23), musicals, theatrical performances, an open gardens weekend, and running races. The popular gardening market event will occur from April 24 to 26.

An extended tour is being organised in Nechanice

At Hrádek near Nechanice, a significant investment project is planned for this year, aimed at restoring the farmyard with a total budget of 136 million crowns. While operations will continue as usual, visitors should be more cautious on the access road. The interiors of the castle will now feature the newly wallpapered salon of the Countess. For those who love extended tours, there will be special evening tours called Closing the castle that last about two hours and will be offered during select occasions from June to September. A wonderful flower exhibition will also fill the castle’s interiors with delightful scents in May, and due to their immense popularity, guided tours of the castle park will also be organized this season.

You’ll have fun all year round at Opočno Castle

Opočno Castle will showcase the newly restored Chinese pavilion in the castle park during the Open Gardens Weekend on June 13. The pavilion will have an official opening ceremony, and a time capsule containing messages for future generations will be placed inside it. The event will also feature a workshop about creating Japanese and Chinese gardens, along with activities such as a tea ceremony, making paper boats and fans, and guided park tours along with carriage rides.

Regular tours of the castle will be complemented on selected dates with special tours of the armory, picture galleries, and, for the very first time, the family museums. The much-anticipated Rose Festival is planned for early July, themed ‘Fashion Through the Centuries’, where floral arrangements will be paired with exhibitions of costumes. Additionally, an Ice Cream Festival is scheduled for July 11.