The ancient cultural landscape on the confluence of the Dyje and Želetavka rivers has been inhabited since Neolithic times. According to the local findings a Great Moravian fortified settlement used to stand near the castle in the 8th – 9th centuries. The castle was an important support point of the Premyslide dynasty. It was built on a narrow rocky promontory about 70 m above the surface of the river Želetavka, which flows around the promontory. The small town of Bítovec was established below the castle, and served as an important stop for merchants and pilgrims travelling from Austria towards Prague.

The first written note about Bítov comes from the foundation paper for cannonry at Stará Boleslav, dating back to 1046. The core of the document leads to the assumption that Bítov castle was founded by Prince Břetislav I. The continuous fortification line of castles protecting the Czech-Austrian border was established here, on the river Dyje, at the beginning of the 12th century. It is interesting that a similar fortification line was built also on the Austrian side to protect their land from Czech attacks (Raabs, Pernegg, Walkenstein, and other castles).

Hluboká nad Vltavou State Originally a royal castle on a promontory above the Vltava River, after many changes in 1661 became the property of the Schwarzenberg family. The current appearance of the chateau complex, including the park and the surrounding landscape, was inspired by the trips of Prince Jan Adolf II. Schwarzenberg to Great Britain, who as a representative of an important and wealthy family participated the coronation of Queen Victoria in 1838. As an honorary diplomat of the Habsburg monarchy, he traveled to the coronation with his wife, Princess Eleonora, who greatly influenced castle appearance. Hluboká soon became the seat of the Schwarzenberg family.

The chateau itself was rebuilt in the Baroque style in the first third of the 18th century and maintained its appearance until the romantic reconstruction in the mid-19th century. The inspiration for the reconstruction of the chateau was mainly the royal castle Windsdor.

The walls and ceilings of the interiors are richly decorated with woodcarvings and noble wood. Some rooms are decorated with paintings by 16th-18th century European masters, chandeliers, stained glass and pottery from Delft. The portraits on the walls depict the most important members of the Schwarzenberg family. Private rooms of the last owners of Hluboká, Prince Adolf and his wife Hilda are also accessible. In the basement of the chateau there is a chateau kitchen with a personal and dining elevator from the beginning of the 20th century.

In the lands of Spis, the north-western region of Eastern Slovakia, large castle is standing proudly on the hill above the plebs. 

Surrounding stone fortification protected the inner Romanesque palace from the Tartars while raiding our lands in 1241. In the half of 15th century, king donated the castle to the noble Zapolsky family. They rebuilt the Romanesque palace into Gothic style, they thickened and elongated the tower and overall they took good care of the castle. Even if the family owned 70+ castles, Spissky Hrad was their preferred seat. Ján Zápoľský, the last king before Habsburgs, was born at the castle

Habsburgs gave the castle to Turzo family and they then rebuilt it in the Renaissance style. The last family that owned the castle (till 1945!), the Csákys, left it in ruins after the fire in 1780. After war, the castle underwent repairing, reconstructing and archeological research. Now, it serves as a museum and exposition piece at the same time.

Several movies like Dragonheart or The Last Legion were filmed here. No wonder, you can almost feel the history talking to you.

In the archeological part of the exhibit you can see findings from the Stone Age until the Middle Ages. Roman coins were also find inside narrow dark cave under the castle. Castle’s kitchen is nicely restored, you can almost see the cooks preparing food for castle’s lords. Over-the-top feasts were sometimes held for almost 4 hours. Castle’s bedroom, washroom, armory, chapel and torture room are also interesting parts of the exposition. Be sure to climb up the tower! You will be treated to an excellent view perfect for photographing.

THE SITE OF ONE OF the most sensational – and sensationalized – serial murders in history, Hrad Cachtice stands now empty and mostly ruined.

In 1611 the household of the Hungarian countess Elizabeth Bathory was accused of torturing and killing as many as 600 young women within the walls of this castle. Over time, the story began to include accusations of sexual attacks and turned Elizabeth into a aging beauty obsessed by the idea of eternal youth found in the blood of virgins. Now perhaps irretrievably mired in myth and speculation, it may be impossible to completely separate fact from fiction.

This much we know: Elizabeth was real, and died here. She was part of the powerful Hungarian Bathory family, and something went very wrong here in the early 1600s. She was married in 1575, as part of an arranged marriage at the age of 14 and received the Cachtice castle property, along with the surrounding feifdom of 17 villages as a wedding gift from her husband. The castle itself dates to at least 1276, when it was mentioned as a border protection fortress. In the early years, they seemed to be more or less a normal aristocratic family – he fought in battles far from home, she hung around the various family properties and eventually bore three children. Although there were a few strange accusations in the early 1600s, things did not get really weird until after her husband’s death in 1604, when she permanently moved to the castle property.

Allegedly the routine (yet brutal) punishments of servants escalated into torture and death for minor infractions. A taste for violence led Elizabeth to send her loyal staff into the surrounding villages and countryside to lure young women to the castle, where they often met with grisly ends. When the locals started to wise up and refuse to let their daughters and sisters go to work at the castle, Elizabeth hit on a genius idea: in 1609 she opened a school for lady’s etiquette, then known as a Gynaecaeum. Young women from far-flung noble families began to arrive to receive instruction in the womanly arts from the aging widow. But it was this decision to become involved with noble families that was her downfall, as young ladies went missing, their angry fathers and brothers began to notice strange goings-on at the Castle Cachtice.

Karlštejn Castle was founded in 1348 by the Charles IV, King of Bohemia and Holy Roman Emperor as his private residence and a place of safekeeping royal treasures, especially his collections of holy relics and the Imperial Crown Jewels. In 1355 Charles IV stayed here for the first time, overseeing the construction and decoration work, especially in chapels. The construction was completed in 1365 when the Chapel of the Holy Cross in the Great Tower was consecrated.

The Chapel of the Holy Cross was the place of safekeeping the imperial crown jewels until 1420 when the Hussite wars (religious civil war) began, and they had not ever returned to Karlštejn Castle. After the wars in 1436, the Bohemian crown jewels were taken to the Chapel of the Holy Cross where they remained till 1619.

The castle was a representative residence of Charles IV and his son Wenceslas IV only, i.e. till 1419. As a fortress, Karlštejn Castle protected the crown jewels, holy relics, and royal archives till the 17th century.

Over the centuries the castle has always been in hands of the king or a state institution, never in private hands. Nowadays it is owned by the state.

After 1480 the castle was rebuilt in the late Gothic style, in the last quarter of the 16th century in the Renaissance style. During the last reconstruction that took place at the end of the 19th century (by architect Josef Mocker) in the spirit of purism, the castle gained its present appearance.

Very impressive is the preserved original stair-arrangement of individual castle buildings. The lower section with a small courtyard by the Well Tower and the Burgrave´s House continue through the majestic five-storey Imperial Palace and the Marian Tower. At the highest point, the construction of the castle culminates in a monumental, 60-meter-high Great Tower and its massive fortifications.

Lednice Castle: The chateau as it looks today dates from 1846-1858, when Prince Alois II decided that Vienna was not suitable for entertaining in the summer, and had Lednice rebuilt into a summer palace in the spirit of English Gothic. The hall on the ground floor would serve to entertain the European aristocracy at sumptuous banquets, and was furnished with carved wood ceilings, wooden panelling, and select furniture, surpassing anything of its kind in Europe. 

The first historical record of this locality dates from 1222. At that time there stood a Gothic fort with courtyard, which was lent by Czech King Václav I to Austrian nobleman Sigfried Sirotek in 1249. 

          At the end of the 13th century the Liechtensteins, originally from Styria, became holders of all of Lednice and of nearby Mikulov. They gradually acquired land on both sides of the Moravian-Austrian border. Members of the family most often found fame in military service, during the Renaissance they expanded their estates through economic activity. From the middle of the 15th century members of the family occupied the highest offices in the land. However, the family’s position in Moravia really changed under the brothers Karel, Maximilian, and Gundakar of Liechtenstein. Through marriage Karel and Maximilian acquired the great wealth of the old Moravian dynasty of the Černohorskýs of Boskovice. At that time the brothers, like their father and grandfather, were Lutheran, but they soon converted to Catholicism, thus preparing the ground for their rise in politics. Particularly Karel, who served at the court of Emperor Rudolf II, became hetman of Moravia in 1608, and was later raised to princely status by King Matyas II and awarded the Duchy of Opava.

During the revolt of the Czech nobility he stood on the side of the Habsburgs, and took part in the Battle of White Mountain. After the uprising was defeated in 1620 he systematically acquired property confiscated from some of the rebels, and the Liechtensteins became the wealthiest family in Moravia, rising in status above the Žerotíns. Their enormous land holdings brought them great profits, and eventually allowed them to carry out their grandious building projects here in Lednice.

Orlík Chateau is a real pearl among Czech monuments. It will captivate every visitor with its unique landscape location on the shores of Orlické Lake, enchants with romantic interiors with rich collections and no less impresses with its history, which blends with the most important milestones in Czech and European history.

The castle gained its name (orlík = young eagle) due to its location high on a rock and above the valley of the Vltava River and is attractive even today thanks to its unique location in the countryside on the bank of the Orlík Reservoir. The castle obtained its current appearance in the style of English Neo-Gothic in the 19th century, and it consists of four wings and an enclosing yard. The castle interiors, which were richly decorated by the Schwarzenbergs, are an excellent example of the lifestyle of the 19th century. 

Orlík Castle is surrounded by an extensive English park, where the Schwarzenberg family tomb is also located, the foundations of which were laid by the wife of Marshal Karel Filip, Princess Marie Anna, born Countess of Hohenfeld. Of the original area of ​​the park of 180 ha , 140 ha have been preserved , the rest was flooded in the 1960s by the waters of Orlické Lake, which today forms one of the natural boundaries of the park.

Křivoklát to the West of Prague is one of the oldest and most important castles of the Czech kings and princes.

The Protected Landscape Area of Křivoklátsko conceals a castle which, due to its excellent location surrounded by forests full of game, was a favourite of many Czech kings. This royal residence was built in the 13th century as a seat of the ruling Přemyslid dynasty. Vestiges of Czech kings and the splendour of their lifestyle is still evident today at every step. The halls of the castle witnessed many festivities and feasts, but also many consequential political talks and fateful diplomatic negotiations.

The most valuable part of the castle, with a massive cylindrical tower, is the Royal Hall, which has splendid star vaulting. After the Vladislav Hall at Prague Castle, it is the second largest hall in the Czech Republic. Every year in the first week of August, a traditional craft fair and the Křivořezání woodcarvers’ festival are held in the courtyard of the castle. You will see dozens of master woodcarvers at work and also a permanent exhibition of their creations.

Bezděz: The king of all Czech castles. Bezděz is often called the “king of all castles” for its original early Gothic appearance, which has never been tampered with, unlike most other castles. For this reason it certainly belongs among the Czech Republic’s more intriguing places of interest.

Bezděz is steeped in myths and legends; one of these claims is that the local monks hid some treasure here. What is certain is that Kunhuta was imprisoned here with her son, the future king of Bohemia, Wenceslas II. So come along to Bezděz and learn about its history. After viewing the 13th-century chapel you will move on to the Royal and Burgrave’s Palace. From Bezděz’s tower you can see a quarter of the country when the weather is clear. The unforgettable atmosphere of the castle is enhanced by the frequent costumed parades, medieval celebrations and theatre performances that take place here.

Bouzov is one of the most visited castles in the Czech Republic. It is located just 35 km from Olomouc. A romantic castle built at the turn of the 13th and 14th century it is located in the countryside of Litovel and Mohelnice. 

The castle is said to be the birthplace of the Czech King George of Podebrady. It is a perfect example of a medieval castle, equipped inside with the highest comforts of its time. Romantic interiors with rich painting and carving decoration of local folk artists are furnished with period furniture. Since 1959 many films have been made here. 

The castle was initially constructed as a Gothic stronghold in the early 14th century. In the 15th century, fortifications were enlarged and strengthened, and in the 16th and 17th centuries the castle was gradually converted into a residential site. It was rebuilt in the Romantic style by the Habsburg Archduke Eugene into a summer seat of the Teutonic Knights at the turn of the 19th and 20th century.

The castle is fully furnished and equipped with paintings, objects of art, history and custom made furniture. Unique are the two functional drawbridge and portcullis, which visitors can see in operation on festive occasions – the start and end of the season.

Sovinec: The original castle, founded by brothers Pavel and Vok from the Moravian Hrutovic family between 1329 and 1332, was basically a cylindrical tower.

At the turn of the 14th and 15th centuries, Vok’s son Pavlík from Sovinec built a narrow fence around the castle core and the fort was fortified. The castle was further expanded at the beginning of the 16th century under the Pňovský family from Sovinec by building a courtyard with two palaces connected by a wall. In the last quarter of the 16th and at the beginning of the 17th century under Vavřinec Eder of Štiavnica and his son-in-law Jan the Elder Kobylka of Kobylí, burgrave’s buildings and the current 3rd castle gate were built.

From the first half of the 17th century, Sovinec was the main fortress of the Teutonic Knights on the Bruntál and Sovinec estates. In the years 1627 – 1643 masive fortifications were complemented by walled moats, outer palisades and the advanced cannon bastion of Liechtenstein. However, even these fortifications did not withstand the onslaught of Swedish troops, which under the leadership of Lennart Torstensson, after heavy fighting between 16 September 1643 – 7 October 1643, conquered and held it until 1650. The military importance of the castle gradually declined and in the middle of the 18th century it was disarmed. 

The name of the castle Krumlov originated from the Latin expression castrum Crumnau or the ancient German Crumbenowe. It reflects the configuration of the landscape – krumben ouwe means the place on the rugged meadow. The Český Krumlov Castle was mentioned for the first time by an Austrian knight minnesinger Ulrich of Lichtenstein in his poem “Der Frauendienst” which dates back between the years 1240 and 1242.

The first written form of the name of Crumbenowe is included in a document of Austrian and Styrian Duke Otakar from 1253. At that time, Krumlov was the seat of Vítek of Krumlov who belonged to the powerful noble family of Witigonen. The expression “Český” has been used in connection with Krumlov since the middle of the 15th century.

The mighty complex of the castle is erected on the rock promontory sculpted by the Vltava river from the southern side and by the Polečnice stream from the northern side. The castle towers proudly above the refined Renaissance and Baroque burgher architecture of the town below. The town, together with the magnificent Church of St.Vitus and the complex of the castle, creates an unique feature of the whole region. Like a precious pearl, the town of Český Krumlov is situated in the valley surrounded with the massif of Blansko Forest to the north and the undulating foothills of Šumava to the south and west.

Perched atop its cliff where the Ploučnice meets the Elbe, Děčín Castle is one of the oldest and largest landmarks in northern Bohemia. In the past several hundred years it has served as a point of control for the Bohemian princes, a military fortress, and noble estate. The castle enjoyed its golden age under the Thun-Hohensteins (1628–1932). At that time, its walls welcomed a parade of famous guests including, for example, Fryderyk Chopin, who composed his Děčín Waltz here. For much of the twentieth century, the castle served as an army barracks.

The forerunner of the Děčín Castle was a wooden fortress built towards the end of the 10th century by the Bohemian princes controlling the surrounding Děčín province. The first written record of the province dates from 993 A.D. and of the fortress itself from 1128. In the thirteenth century this original wooden structure was rebuilt in stone as a royal castle that, under unknown circumstances, fell into the hands of the powerful Wartenberg dynasty around 1305.

No one knows exactly how this medieval castle looked. However, we can say with some certainty that it was divided into two sections – the upper (rear) and lower (forward) parts, which each operated more or less independently.

This layout endured until the end of the 18th century, and even survived siege and fire in 1444. Numerous later renovations, however, erased all but fragments of the original medieval semblance of the castle. A significant change to the castle came in the second half of the 16th century when it was held by the Saxon Knights of Bünau, who gradually rebuilt the lower castle into a Renaissance palace with a grand ceremonial hall.

Raduň: The original fortified house was mentioned in some document of 1475, when Václav of Tvorkov bought it from the Opava Duke Viktorin. By 1586 it was rebuilt into a Renaissance country house, most likely by Jiří Tvorkovský of Tvorkov, and later remodelled.

From 1816–26 Johann Larisch-Mönnich (and later his widow Anna Marie, neé Mönnich) had it radically rebuilt in Neo-Classical style to the designs of Johann Anton Englisch, regional engineer for the Opava region. At this time a narrow gallery with a ground-floor winter garden and upper terrace was added to the three-winged corps-de-logis of the house.

From the 1820s–40s a collection of other Empire buildings appeared in the complex: administration buildings (1823), orangery (1824–5) and sheepfold (1841), as well as a large landscape park with several ponds. Gebhart Bernard Blücher von Wahlstatt, who received the house in 1832 through his marriage to Maria Nepomucena Larisch-Mönnich, had an imitation medieval two-story fortification wall with terraces constructed.

The orangery and ornamental garden with a large assortment of citrus trees and exotic plants were opened to the public in 2004 after complete renovation, and in 2011 the reconstruction of the roof was finished, including the restoration of original residential attic.

This exceptionally well-preserved medieval castle was the seat of the powerful lords of Pernštejn. The original simple layout of the castle has been lost in a maze of the renovated buildings. The Late Gothic and Early Renaissance form of the castle, however, has not been affected by furher rebuilding and is a unique example of the transformation of a medieval fortress into a luxurious Renaissance seat. In the palace part visitors can trace the history and development of the building from a simple castle through to a Late Gothic fort, Renaissance palace, and then Baroque, Rococo and Neo-Classical residence, up to the Romanticism of the 19th century.

Strecno Castle: For almost 700 years, a medieval castle has risen above the village of Strečno and the river Váh as a demonstration of power and protection. The medieval stone castle was built at the turn of the 13th and 14th centuries. It existed as a royal castle and later as the property of the nobility until the end of the 17th century, when King Leopold I ordered it to be demolished.

The castle was originally built as a guard on the way to Turc, where tolls were collected from the beginning of the 14th century and gradually grew to the dimensions of 165 x 61 m. Massive multiple fortifications on the west and south sides – strong walls, towers, bastions, 4 gates – made it the best fortified castle on the upper Považie.

The most famous historical figure who lived at the castle is undoubtedly Žofia Bosniaková, the wife of František Vešeléni. Svätica from Strečno was also called for her good deeds and help for the sick and the poor. She died at the age of 35 in 1644. When, after 45 years, the imperial soldiers found her body in a crypt in the castle, it was almost intact. This is one of the main reasons for the ongoing process of her beatification. Until 2009, her body was stored in a church in the nearby village of Teplička nad Váhom. A clay copy of Žofi’s mummy has been placed in the crypt of Strečno Castle since 2007. This forms part of the permanent exhibition installed in the chapel.

The medieval village of Paseka grew up in 2013 in the castle grounds of Strečno. It was built authentically according to period medieval buildings. It consists of five small fully equipped wooden houses with thatched roofs – the house of a medieval baker, a fisherman, a folk healer and a shelter for pilgrims. The village has a functional bell tower and a well. Traditional materials of those times are used – wood and reeds. In the immediate vicinity of the built medieval village, visitors will be interested in the rest area – a fireplace with a grill and a well. The newly built amphitheater-style presentation space with benches is used for demonstrations of crafts and cultural performances. The project did not forget even the most important visitors – children. A wooden playground using motifs of castle architecture offers the opportunity to spend pleasant moments under the castle.

Valtice Castle: Valtice (in German Feldsberg) was as late as the end of World War I a part of Lower Austria. Its connection with the Czechoslovak Republic came about as part of the peace treaty that was signed in Saint-Germain-en-Laye near Paris on 10th September, 1919.

The very first known written mention about Valtice (written as Veldesperch at that time) comes from 10th January 1193. The Emperor Henry VI confirmed by deed its exchange between Passau bishop Wolfger and the new acquirer Wichard of Seefeld in Bavarian Regensburg. Even before this date, a fortified building stood in Valtice probably with clay and wooden ramparts and a bricked residential core.

Between 1387 and 1391, the Lichtenstein family managed to unite the divided manor in their possession; they held Valtice until it was confiscation in 1945. After the stormy 15th century, the Hussite plunder and the Czech-Hungarian wars during the rule of Jiří z Poděbrad (George of Poděbrady) and Matthias Corvinus, Valtice experienced renewal and prosperity in the days of Hartman I of Liechtenstein (1506-1540). A huge stimulus for the development of the Valtice Castle was the loss of the family possession near Mikulov (in 1560). The former castle was modified into the four-wing Renaissance building with the arcade loggia.

At the end of the World War II, the castle was devastated by Russian captives who were waiting for their repatriation there. Some of the contents from the house were stolen or damaged, then in the mid 1947, a women´s camp for forced labour was established in the eastern wing of the front castle premises. The incarcerated women mostly worked on farms and in wine cellars. 

A gradual renewal of the Castle started during the 1970´s and is still continuing. In the period 2014-2015, a broad renewal of the Riding-Hall was performed, and a replica of the late baroque (classicist) theatre was built in the original enclosing walls.

The entire castle area including the landscape and the buildings in the neighbourhood is such an important monument that it was registered in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Sychrov Castle: Flower of France on Czech soil. The Neo-Gothic Sychrov in Bohemian Paradise has the largest collection of French portraits in Central Europe, unique richly furnished interiors and a large English park.

During its heyday, when it served as the residence for princes of the French royal blood from the Rohan family, the originally Baroque Sychrov castle was expanded and rebuilt in Neo-Gothic style. Leading Czech artisans and artists (such as the carver Petr Bušek, the glass painter Jan Zachariáš Quast,etc) together with the architect Bernard Grueber and Josef Pruvot, modified the castle to the taste of Prince Kamil de Rohan to its Historicist form, The new English landscape park became a model for important arboreta such as Průhonice and Konopiště. Sychrov offers a comprehensive look at the lifestyle of the high aristocracy in the second half of the 19th century.

The main tour route of the castle features the spaces on the first floor of the main castle building with the private family rooms (Prince and Princesse’s suite), the luxurious Royal Suite for the most important guests, the state areas (hall stairs, drawing room library, billiard room and large dining room) and the castle chapel.

Rožmberk Castle: boasts an almost eight century long glorious history. The impressive setting of the castle in the romantic landscape and the richly decorated and furnished interiors will enchant you.

One of the oldest castles in South Bohemia was built by the Family Vítek around the mid 13th century. The medieval construction of the castle consisted of the Lower and Upper Castle. In 1522 the Upper Castle burnt down completely with the exception of the freely standing defence tower Jakobínka. Following the fire an extensive reconstruction took place in 1556 which  decorated the facades of the Lower Castle in the Renaissance style. The last Rožmberk owner had the interiors festively decorated. 

In later years circa 1840-1857 a further reconstruction was carried out in the spirit of the romantic Gothic style. The castle has become a worthy monument of the Buquoy family’s glory. The present-day sightseeing route acquaints visitors with the oldest members of the Buquoy family. The last Rožmberks and the White Lady, who appeares in this castle, are mentioned too.

Loket Castle: It is not clear when exactly the Romanesque castle was founded. Vladislaus I, Bohemian King or ministerial officials of Fridrich I Barbosa are considered as the founders. German farmers were invited by ministerial officials to populate the area.

The first written mention of Loket castle comes from 1234. Later, under the rule of Ottokar II of Bohemia, Premyslid dynasty King, the castle underwent extensive rebuilding in early gothic style.

During the turbulent period of protests against the King John of Luxembourg, Queen Eliska Premyslovna found a refuge in the castle, together with her child Wenceslas who later became the Emperor and King Charles IV. Although he was imprisoned here at the age of 3, he liked visiting the castle later in his life.

At one of his stays in Loket, Charles IV set up a journey to the forest where he discovered hot springs? The place later became the city of Karlovy Vary.

The castle served to kings, Lords of Schlick and Lords of Plauen, Loket´s townsmen and it was used as prison in 19th and 20th century. Shortly after 1989, it was open for public. The tour leads through expositions of porcelain, collections of former town museum, museum of arms to the premises of former prison where an impressive and authentic demonstration of torture can be seen.

Mikulov Castle: The silhouette of this monumental castle in South Moravia is visible from afar. In its time it has played host to a number of important personalities, such as French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte. 

The Baroque castle standing on a rocky cliff has been a landmark of the Moravian town of Mikulov for several centuries. In 1945, when the German Army was retreating, it was totally destroyed by fire; however, it underwent intensive renovation and was opened again just a few years later. Inside the castle you should definitely not miss seeing its library and the Hall of Ancestors, where you will meet its former owners, though only as works of art. Make sure you do not forget to stop at one of the local wineries – it would be a pity not to taste the best product of South Moravia, a traditional wine-producing region.

Mikulov Castle has opened a permanent exhibition dedicated to wine production. It is titled Wine Across Centuries and will transport you back to ancient Egypt, a Romanesque wine cellar, Gothic chapel and Baroque theatre.

The castle garden in Mikulov is one of the largest of its kind in the Czech Republic. It consists of terraces built on different levels around the hill on which the castle stands.

Veveří – was, originally, probably a small hunting lodge or only a court of Moravian margraves. It is first mentioned in some documents in 1213. Veveří as a real stone castle was thoight to have been built on or about the middle of the 13th century. Among other things, as a place of royal supervision over the settlement of the territory upstream of the Svratka River. 

The castle was significantly expanded to its present size after the middle of the 14th century during the reign of the Moravian Margrave Jan Jindřich (younger brother of Emperor Charles IV), who made Veveří one of its main residences. Significant late renaissance reconstructions took place at the beginning of the 17th century. 

In 1645, the castles of Veveří and Pernštejn were the only fortresses in the wider area that resisted the Swedes during the siege of the city of Brno. The last aristocratic owner of the Veveří castle and estate, Arnold De Forest Bischofsheim, sold it to the Czechoslovak state in 1925. After WWII, Veveří was briefly opened to the public again, but in the early 1950s, the extensive castle grounds were insensitively adapted to the needs of the forestry school, boarding school and racing school. The castle has been gradually reconstructed since the 1990s and since 2002, Veveří Castle has also offered visitors a tour of the ever-changing temporary exhibitions during the season.

Červená Lhota: The existence of an original fortress on the site of today’s castle is assumed from sometime around the middle of the 14th century. The fortress then might have been sold into the ownership of Diviš Boubínský of Újezd, who sometime around 1530 sold it to the knightly family of Káb of Rybňan.

 Of the Káb family, the most interesting character was undoubtedly the Knight Jan, a capable manager, active builder, and loyal Habsburg servant, who represented the prestigious office of tax collector in the Bechyňe region.  His short life was tragically marked by the plague, which took five of his children in 1557.

After Jan’s death, Lhota was inherited by his three sons Bohuchval, Zikmund, and Jiří, who first had to compensate their older brother Jaroslav.  Zikmund died four years later, and the families of the two remaining brothers Bohuchval and Jiří lived in Lhota at odds.  The castle ceased to be their quiet home and became a theatre of squabbles, arguments, and personal assaults.  It could be some of the stories captured in the memories of the occasional observers which gave life to the stories of the godless castle lady possessed by the devil, her tragic end marked by the bloody stain under the window on the then snow-white facade.  This stain is said to have been the later reason to plaster the entire castle red. 

Frýdlant: The original medieval castle, extended in the 16th century to a Renaissance chateau, became the property of the famous Thirty Years War commander, Albrecht von Wallenstein in 1622, He turned it into the centre of his extensive Frýdlant duchy. The last noble owners were the Clam-Gallas, who opened the castle already in 1801 to the public; Frýdlant therefore became the oldest castle museum in Central Europe. 

Frýdlant is one of largest and most important heritage sites in Northern Bohemia. It consists of two architectural complexes: a medieval castle and a renaissance chateau. The castle was built around the mid-13^th century. In 1278, the domain became property of the Biberstein house who took major part in building the large castle palace.

The original gothic castle hasn’t been preserved in its entirety. Nowadays, the castle is a large two-floor building around the small, irregularly shaped courtyard, with the predominant cylindrical tower – a bergfrit. The castle was growing over time, and underwent two renaissance reconstructions in the 16^th century. The chapel and the renaissance chateau were built at the turn of the 16^th and 17^th century by Marco Spazzio di Lancio. The last big reconstruction took place in the 1860s, when the castle warden wing was rebuilt.

Bratislava Castle:  The monumental building of the Bratislava Castle is visible from a great distance. The majestic impression is enhanced by the hill it stands on, some eighty-five metres above the water level of the Danube river.

It was an important fortified settlement at the end of the 9^th century. The first written reference to Bratislava from 907 is related to this period; it mentions a battle between the Bavarians and early Magyars under the Brezalauspurc Castle. First, there was a pre-Romanesque stone palace in the 11th and 12th century on the castle hill. Generous reconstruction of the castle started in 1423 and the result of this reconstruction was a Gothic castle referred to as a Sigismund`s castle. Reconstruction of the castle called the Pálffys reconstruction was carried out in the period of the fading Renaissance style.

The last stage of big building alterations of the Bratislava Castle was accomplished by Maria Theresa. She had all fortifying elements of the Pallfys castle removed and simultaneously improved or extended its residential functions complying with the criteria of what was then considered the utmost luxury. The most interesting building though was that of what was later on called Theresianum which was added to the eastern front side of the palace in 1768.

The lovely Rococo palace was the seat of the Governor, Prince Albert, who acquired the office after he married Archduchess Maria Christina, daughter of Queen Maria Theresa. The couple, as art lovers, started to collect art works, which later became part of what is known nowadays as the Viennese Gallery Albertinum.

Devín Castle: This well-preserved ruin is noted for a marvellous geographical position, offering terrific panorama views upon the confluence of Danube and Morava rivers.

Oldest traces of a settlement date back to the 5th century B.C., 400 years before Celts populated this area. The castle has a vivid medieval history. It served as a boundary fortress, military station and a trade centre.

The ancient name of this castle (Dowina) comes from the Slavic word deva (girl). The watchtower, most photographed piece of the castle known now as the Maiden Tower, serves as a basis for legends about beautiful virgins, imprisoned in the tower, eventually jumping for their deaths.

In 1809 Napoleon himself ordered the castle to be destroyed, as part of the regional military neutralisation.

Devin castle is one of the many locations where Games of Throne was filmed.

Ledeč nad Sázavou Castle:  The medieval castle in Ledeč nad Sázavou rises on a rocky promontory above the picturesque Sázava River.

The original castle with a tower, an eastern palace and fences was gradually added over the centuries, in late Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque to its present form. The upper courtyard is dominated by an early Gothic cylindrical tower 32 m high. Access to the castle from the southeast side leads via a stone bridge from 1838, from which there are views of the castle grounds. In the southern fence there is a gazebo with sgraffito decoration. 

The castle was built on a promontory on the south side surrounded by the river Sázava and on the north by the Pivovarský stream. From the east side it was protected by a deep moat dug artificially in the rock, over which a wooden bridge led, replaced in 1838 by a stone bridge. To the north, at the end of the bastion, there was a so-called upper gate with a drawbridge, in the place where the castle moat was the narrowest. The main entrance to the castle used to be the so-called lower gate on the west side, to which a footpath led along a slight slope from the Sázava River. The arrival to the Ledeč castle was protected by bastions with loopholes, built on the west side and located on both sides of the lower gate. From here it was possible to defend the steep ascent to the castle.

Castle of Nitra:  It was built in the 11th century and consists of several parts. The core of the Castle is the cathedral with the adjacent Bishops residence.

The oldest surviving part of the Cathedral is the Romanesque church of St Emeram from the 11th or 12th century. It was rebuilt after fire in the second half of the 13th century and after Matúš Čáks soldiers destroyed it, a new Gothic church was built next to it in 1317. From then on it served as what is called ”trustworthy” place of chapter and later as the treasury of the cathedral. Today, it forms together with the Upper and Lower Churches the most valuable structure in the area of the Castle – the Bishops Cathedral.

The originally Gothic Upper Church was built in the years 1333-1335 and three centuries later the Lower Church was added to it. A wide staircase connects both of them. The appearance of the Cathedral as we know it now, is from the years 1710-1736 and its interior is also from that time. Among the most valuable monuments of the interior is the main altar of the Lower Church made by the Austrian sculptor J. Pernegger who used the painting of D. Voltera as a model.

The originally Gothic Bishops Palace standing by these sacral buildings obtained its Late Baroque appearance in the second half of the 18th century.

Its outer fortifications with the oldest parts from the Romanesque period are especially interesting. The legendary Vazilova veža tower with square ground plan was several times rebuilt and adapted in the Romantic style. Allegedly the Hungarian Prince Vazul was imprisoned in this tower.

The Castle area and the Bishops Cathedral of St Emeram are accessible to public.

Trenčín:  Trenčín Castle – dominant feature of the city of Trenčín and the entire region of Považie. Together with Spiš Castle and Devín Castle, Trenčín Castle belongs to the most extensive castles in Europe.

Since ancient times, the castle has guarded trade routes connecting the region of Northern Ugria and mining towns of Central Slovakia with Bohemia, Moravia, Silesia and Poland. History of the castle dates back to the 11th century, when it consisted of residential tower and rotunda, remains of which can be seen in the upper courtyard. At the end of 13th century, the castle became property of Matthew Cszak who owned almost 50 castles and became the legendary Lord of Váh and Tatras. The tallest Mathew´s Tower offers beautiful views of Považie (River Váh Region).

Subsequent owners gradually altered and re-built the castle to fit their vision. King Louis of Anjou built a new palace – the Louis palace that presently houses an exhibit of the 17th – 19th century furniture. Sigmund of Luxembourg donated the castle to his wife Barbora Cellska and built the Barbora´s palace for her. Stephen Zápoľský acquired the castle at the end of the 15th century and started expansive rebuilds. The Zapolya´s palace is the youngest palace of the Trenčín Castle.

Orava Castle, built on a rock above the river Orava in Oravský Podzámok like an “eagle nest”, is one of the greatest tourist attractions of northern Slovakia.

It was built in the place of an older wooden hillfort after the Tartar invasion in 1241. Through the following centuries, this small fortress transformed into an extensive castle structure with 154 rooms. The castle then held the position of a county castle with the seat of Orava administration headquarters that controlled almost the whole Orava region. Both the exterior and the interior of the castle carry the elements of Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque and even contemporary architecture. Castle’s development is therefore an on-going process.

The complex of Orava Castle consists of various buildings adapted to the shape of the castle hill. Since 1556, the castle was administered by Thurzo family who initiated the greatest rebuilding actions in its history. The castle then acquired its final form in 1611.

After the death of the last descendant of Thurzo family, the castle had several owners who did not invest in its further maintenance. In 1800, Orava Castle was destroyed by fire – the greatest tragedy of its architectural development, and it eventually became completely useless for its owners. It was only after the end of the Second World War when the castle underwent general restoration and was saved from an inevitable destruction.

Bojnice Castle was first mentioned in written records in 1113, in a document held at the Zobor Abbey. Originally built as a wooden fort, it was gradually replaced by stone, with the outer walls being shaped according to the uneven rocky terrain. Its first owner was Matthew III Csák, who received it in 1302 from the King Ladislaus V of Hungary. Later, in the 15th century, it was owned by King Matthias Corvinus, who gave it to his illegitimate son John Corvinus in 1489. Matthias liked to visit Bojnice and it was here that he worked on his royal decrees. He used to dictate them under a linden tree, which is now known as the “Linden tree of King Matthias”. After his death the castle became the property of the Zápolya family. The Thurzós, the richest family in the northern Kingdom of Hungary, acquired the castle in 1528 and undertook its major reconstruction. The former fortress was turned into a Renaissance castle. From 1646 on, the castle’s owners were the Pálffys, who continued to rebuild the castle.

Finally, the last famous castle owner from the Pálffy family, Count János Ferenc Pálffy (1829-1908), made a complex romantic reconstruction from 1888 to 1910 and created today’s imitation of French castles of the Loire valley. He not only had the castle built, but also was the architect and graphic designer. He utilized his artistic taste and love for collecting pieces of art. He was one of the greatest collectors of antiques, tapestries, drawings, paintings and sculptures of his time. After his death and long quarrels, his heirs sold many precious pieces of art from the castle and then, on 25 February 1939, sold the castle, the health spa, and the surrounding land to Czech entrepreneur Jan Antonín Baťa (owner the shoe company Bata).