Visiting Hluboká Castle - One of the Most Beautiful Castles in the Czech Republic
I’ve visited many castles in the Czech Republic but few, if any, compare to the incredible Hluboká Castle
Hluboká Castle, also known as The State Chateau of Hluboká, is a remarkably picturesque castle that stands out as a gem in South Bohemia and in the nation at large.
When I first visited the Czech Republic back in 2011, I was still in the midst of obsessing over my country count. I was studying in Oslo, Norway, and I had saved up money to travel, and figured that I ought to make use of my time since I didn’t know when I’d be back on the continent.
And, being 20 years old and overexcited, I felt like making the best use of my time meant visiting as many countries as possible.
I traversed through capital city after capital city, and continued to add countries to my list. Now, I certainly don’t blame myself for that, but I have learned in time that that isn’t the way that I like to travel.
Back then, I didn’t visit the Czech Republic, I visited Prague. Sure, Prague is an integral part of the identity of the Czech Republic, but it certainly isn’t the entirety of it.
Just recently, I had the chance to return to the Czech Republic to explore the county beyond its capital city, and I leapt at the chance. I ended up biking a couple hundred kilometres across South Bohemia along with some other media, as well as a few incredible guides and representatives working with or for Czech Tourism.
I’ve got plenty of tales to share with you from that journey (and there are some articles in the works, don’t you worry), but I want this first article to have a clear, singular focus and that’s Hluboká Castle.
It’s fair to say that I’ve likely now visited hundreds of castles in Europe, and with its triumphant exterior (somehow a seamless blend of Tudor, Neo Gothic and Baroque), lavish interior, and intriguing yet convoluted history, I’m comfortable saying that this is one of the more memorable and striking castles on the European continent.
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Where is Hluboká Castle?
Obviously, it’s in the Czech Republic, but Hluboká Castle is located specifically in the South Bohemian Region of the country.
It’s important to recognize that the South Bohemian Region has a lengthy and proud history, and when you’re coming to this region, you should be intentional in trying cuisine and chasing experiences that you won’t find elsewhere.
For example, I absolutely fell in love with kulajda, a soup containing cream, mushrooms, egg (often from a quail), dill and potatoes. I would, quite frankly, go back to South Bohemia again and again just to eat that soup.
Before I get carried away and write the whole article about that soup, let’s get back on track.
Hluboká Castle, a place many have called the most beautiful castle in the Czech Republic, is situated on the famous Vltava River, and it’s a very short distance from České Budějovice, the largest city in the South Bohemian Region.
Hluboká Castle is technically in the town of Hluboká nad Vltavou, which is a very pleasant town replete with local restaurants, beer halls, and an adorable main street. Naturally, Hluboká nad Vltavou and Hluboká Castle are inextricably linked, and it’s worth knowing that if you wanted to, you could easily plan to spend some time in the town, and even stay the night and look at cycling around the town and region.
There’s a helpful tourism office just at the bottom of the hill that leads up to Hluboká Castle which you can visit if you’re taken by the charm of Hluboká nad Vltavou and want to dive deeper into the town and region.
A Brief History of Hluboká Castle
In the present day, Hluboká Castle ranks as the second most visited castle in the Czech Republic (after Karlštejn Castle) and that’s not surprising to me at all. And yet ,the site of current day Hluboká Castle started from humble beginnings in the second half of the 13th century.
Back then, it was known as Froburg Castle, which was, by all accounts, a classic medieval structure built high above the Vltava River. It was purchased by the Kingdom of Bohemia (often called the Czech Kingdom nowadays) in the 14th century, and history nerds like myself would be keen to know that it was a favourite spot of Emperor Charles IV who made sure to pop by every time he had business to attend to in South Bohemia and, more specifically, nearby České Budějovice.
It was held by a local noble, then seized briefly by French forces during the Thirty Years’ War, but it began to take on its true form both in terms of reputation and aesthetics under the House of Schwarzenberg in the 17th century.
The big reason that Hluboká Castle is such an enormous tourism draw, and why it’s considered arguably the most beautiful castle in the Czech Republic, is largely due to Johann Adolf II von Scwarzenberg’s decision in the 19th century or reconstruct the castle in the romantic style (based on England’s Windsor Castle).
I’m someone who tries to do careful research and not get out of my depth historically, so I don’t want to comment with too many definitive statements here, but, from what I can gather, during the Second World War, the Schwarzenbergs fled the castle in advance of the Nazi invasion, and their property essentially fell into state hands, and that’s where it remains today.
Either way, in the present day, Hluboká Castle is one of the most revered and visited sites in the county, and is a National Cultural Monument.
What’s the Best Way to Visit Hluboká Castle?
As with any site that is going to have a fair amount of tourists, it makes sense for you to plan out your visit to ensure you’re getting the most of your time there. You’re going to want to think about how much time you want to spend simply photographing the grounds, which tour you’ll be best suited for, what tours will be running during your visit, and whether or not you’d like to visit the adjoining museum and more.
Rest assured, I will address all of those questions below. If you're a long time reader, you’ll know I’m nothing if not thorough.
As a brief aside, I just want to note that I’m happy you’ve found this article and are considering exploring Hluboká Castle (and, by proxy Hluboká nad Vltavou, České Budějovice, and South Bohemia at large), as people need to wake up to the realization that the Czech Republic is so much more than just Prague and a handful of day-trips from Prague.
And trust me, I love Prague, but I do feel strongly that it’s hard to even understand or contextualize Prague on a national perspective if you haven’t done your due diligence in exploring the rest of the country.
Explore the Grounds of Hluboká Castle
First and foremost, I would ensure, either before or after your tour, you’ve allotted some time to explore the grounds of Hluboká Castle, which, as you know, is somewhat interchangeably called The State Chateau of Hluboká.
If you’re like me, and you like to shoot photography and really get a feel for a place I would allot about 45 minutes to an hour to wander the grounds. The view is perhaps the most stunning looking directly at the front of the castle, but you’ll also find striking views around the back of the castle, which basically looks like a scene out of Downton Abbey.
The exterior of the Hluboká Castle is awe-inspiring, and while the interior is remarkable in its own right, it is likely outside of the castle where you’ll have your “wow moment.”
If you’re enjoying this article, you might also like to read about the Most Beautiful Cities in Switzerland or the Most Beautiful Cities in Germany
Take Your Preferred Tour of Hluboká Castle
The reason that I say “preferred tour” is because Hluboká Castle offers a variety of tours which cater to different interests (and also run in a variety of languages).
Below, I’m going to give a brief overview of tours which are on offer, but you should view their website for a detailed breakdown of their opening hours and tour schedules, so you know what is on offer for your visit.
Winter Tour - As I’m writing this as we head into winter, it makes sense for me to mention this first. The Winter Tour, as you might have gathered, is available for tourists who are arriving in the winter months. This year, they’ve finally got some rooms which are heated for winter tours. You’ll get to view the private suites, large chamber rooms, the Hamilton Parlour of Princess Teresa, walk along the corridors and much more.
It sounds like they’ve done a bit of a “best of” with the Winter Tour in sharing some of the history of the property and family, and giving you a feel for what makes Hluboká Castle special.
As far as I can gather, the Winter Tour is the only tour running from November 12th - January 4th. However, that shouldn’t stop you from visiting, as this tour is literally set up to provide a comprehensive overview of the castle/chateau.
If it’s not in the winter months, then they’re running their 4 regularly scheduled tours which are as follows.
The Representation Rooms Tour - This tour shows “the piano of Hluboká Chateau, the morning room, reading room, smoking room, small and large dining room, library together with the personal rooms of Princess Eleonore and an exhibition of weapons – entrance hall to the armoury and chateau armoury.”
Having visited Hluboká Castle, I would say that, for a tourist, the highlights are going to be the incredible wood carvings that you’ll see throughout the tour, and some immensely valuable furniture, if that’s your thing. I was astounded by the paintings, some of which are over 500 years old, and would be an attraction at any museum.
You’ll also find over 10,000 books in the chateau library, and weapon aficionados will be swooning over the collection in the armoury.
The Private Apartments Tour - This is a more intimate look into the lives of Jan Adolf II Schwarzenberg, his wife Eleonore, and their respective family. The rooms are furnished according to the time period when the Schwarzenbergs would have lived there, which is a draw for many tourists. You’ll see the “hunting dining room, preparation room, study, marble room, bedroom, servant room and original sanitary facilities.”
The tour, in general, focuses on the humanizing the House of Schwarzenberg, and also has a special focus on the importance of hunting and “the hunt” as part of aristocratic social life in the 19th century.
The Chateau Kitchen Tour - This isn’t necessarily my jam, nor cup of tea (puns intended in both regards), but many visitors are surprisingly interested in learning about what operations would have been like in the kitchen of a large noble house. The kitchen is in the basement, so as to not disturb the tranquility of the rest of the house, but I think people will be surprised by its size. It’s huge, which gives some indication to the sorts of events and gatherings that would have been going on here.
The one thing that I like about this tour is that you’ll also simultaneously learn a bit about cold, hot, and confectionary cuisine during this time period. Like the other tours, this tour tends to highlight the comings and goings of Hluboká Castle during the 19th century.
The Chateau Tower Tour - I should note that this tour does not run during inclement weather, but if the weather is looking fine, then this tour provides spectacular views of the surrounding countryside. Photographers can also snag some dramatic photos towards the back of the castle, but obviously extra elevation always tends to spice things up a bit when it comes to photography.
The Neo Gothic Tower is very much an emblem of the property, despite only being build in the middle of the 1800s. How they actually constructed the chateau tower after the collapse of the original tower of the Baroque chateau is a genuine feat of engineering, so pay attention to those details on the tour.
Visitors who are a fan of lookouts - also be sure to visit the slightly taller Black Tower in nearby České Budějovice.
Visit the Aleš South Bohemian Gallery
After visiting Hluboká Castle, I took a short walk over to the Aleš South Bohemian Gallery which is on the castle grounds.
If you’ve got the time, I can’t think of a good reason not to go and visit. It’s widely considered to be one of the top art museums in the South Bohemian Region, and has actually been around since the mid 1950s.
There’s plenty to see there in terms of Czech and European art, but I was particularly intrigued by the exhibit that is on now which profiles the famous Czech painter, Kamil Lhoták. What fascinated me about him is how much his paintings changed and evolved through the decades. He was clearly an experimental sort of person, and I love that it’s difficult to even put him into a category or genre as it relates to art in general.
He was also totally self-taught, which I find inspiring considering how revered he is today. His art, to me, is totally unpretentious, and I love that.
Again, if you’ve got the time, and you’re staying the night in Hluboká nad Vltavou or České Budějovice and not just on a day-trip visit from Prague, then I’d make sure you can visit the Aleš South Bohemian Gallery.
If you want to explore more Europe travel, check out this 2 Day Lisbon Itinerary or Guide to Visiting Dublin’s EPIC Museum
What Makes Hluboká Castle Worth the Visit?
As you might have gathered from this article, I’m troubled by the notion that people would come all the way to the Czech Republic, only visit Prague, then head off into the sunset.
It’s important to remember that the modern day Czech Republic has been a hotbed for social and political activity pretty much since the Bronze Age, so it’s almost impossible to go anywhere without confronting history that is worth learning about.
To me, Hluboká Castle is a real prime example of that. I enjoy the thought of guiding readers like yourself to grab a beer at a local spot like Pivovar Hluboká, then spend the night somewhere in South Bohemia as opposed to heading back to Prague.
This is a region that is rich in traditions that I would just never have known about if I hadn’t come here and seen it for myself. I mean, imagine if I’d never got to try kulajda? Imagine!
I’ve come to think of countries like books, and I think it’s worth noting that if you’re only going to go to the capital, then you’re really only looking at the cover page, and reading one chapter that a lot of other people have read. I want to encourage you to turn to a chapter that less folks have read, but should - the chapter on South Bohemia.
I want to humbly thank the Czech Republic for hosting me as media. All opinions are completely my own. Below, I’d love to know in the comments if you’ve visited the Czech Republic, Hluboka Castle, or the South Bohemian Region before or whether you’d like to visit. ! I personally respond to each and every comment.