Bohemia is a historical region of central Europe that was a kingdom in the Holy Roman Empire. Later, it became a province in the Habsburgs’ Austrian Empire. Bohemia had borders on the south with Austria, on the west with Bavaria, on the north with Saxony and Lusatia, on the northeast with Silesia, and on the east with Moravia. It was part of Czechoslovakia, and since 1993 it has formed much of the Czech Republic. Bohemia’s name comes from a Celtic people known as the Boii.
The region was the birthplace of many aristocrats and noble families. At the same time, it was the site of many political and military conflicts. Its long, noble and historical tradition is evident in the numerous impressive castles in its various regions. In this article we focus on castles located in the Czech Republic and open to visitors.
Rozmberk Castle (South Bohemia)
It is one of the oldest castles in Bohemia. It is regarded as the cradle of the House of Rozmberk. They called them the “Lords of the Rose”, a historical Czech aristocratic family. The castle was built in the 13th century as a fortified estate by the strong family. It towers on top of a hill above a small village on the Vltava River. The family used the castle as a base for supervising their estates in the region. The estate consists of the Upper Castle, the remains of which are the Jacobean Tower, and the Lower Castle with its Gothic buildings. In the 16th century they remodelled it in Renaissance style. [Visit the official site of the castle]
Cervena Lhota Castle (South Bohemia)
This red castle is in a unique location amid the forests and on a small island at the centre of a small lake. The original Gothic castle, which was built in the 14th century. It was reconstructed in the 16th century as a Renaissance residence. In the 17th century a stone bridge linked the island with the mainland. Also, they covered its roof with red tiles that gave it its name (“cervena” means red). The famous German composer Carl Ditters von Dittersdorf lived here for the last three years of his life. After World War II they used the castle as a children’s hospital. Today it houses a magnificent collection of furnishings from the Renaissance to the mid-19th century. [Visit the official site of the castle]
Hluboka nad Vltavou Castle (South Bohemia)
Probably one of the most beautiful Czech castles, Wenceslas I built Hluboka in the 13th century. The originally Gothic castle was remodelled many times. In the 18th century the Schwarzenbergs converted into a Baroque residence. In the 19th century, they added English Neo-Gothic elements. The castle has 120 rooms and 11 towers with furniture and paintings. There is a winter garden and riding hall which houses the Ales South Bohemian Gallery. The gallery has a collection of 57 Flemish tapestries and other examples of Bohemian mediaeval art. The highlight of the collection is the Adoration of Infant Jesus by the Master of Trebon (1380). [Visit the official site of the castle]
Sternberk Castle (Central Bohemia)
This Bohemian castle on top of a high cliff above the Sazava River and the small village with the same name is a really impressive sight. The Sternberk family constructed the early castle in Gothic style in the 13th century. In 1467 the castle was occupied and destroyed by the royal armies of George Podebrady. Later, the Sternberks recovered the ruined castle. They, in the 15th and 16th centuries, rebuilt the castle and added a new cylindrical tower to the south and a dungeon to the north. The 17th-century interiors contain impressive Italian stucco work and interesting engravings. [Visit the official site of the castle]
Svihov Castle (West Bohemia)
The very well-preserved Gothic castle surrounded by water canals and green meadows provides a fairytale landscape for the visitor. The castle was built in 1480 by the House of Ryzmberk ze Skaly and the Hussites besieged it during the Hussite Wars. After the Thirty Years’ War, the Emperor of Habsburg, Ferdinand III, ordered its demolition, fearing that it would be a refuge for the resistance against the Habsburgs. However, due to the continuous postponement of the demolition, they damaged only a part of the bastion. Today the whole castle includes two palaces, a tower, the walls with four bastions and a small church. The castle was the shooting location for many films, with the most significant being the Danish film A Royal Affair (2012). [Visit the official site of the castle]
Loket Castle (West Bohemia)
The town of Loket, which means “elbow” in Czech, is probably one of the most beautiful places in the Czech Republic. The town got its name due to the town centre being surrounded on three sides by the Ohre River, and the shape the river takes is similar to that of an elbow. The presence of the perfectly preserved Loket Castle governs the skyline of this mediaeval town. They built the Gothic castle built in the 12th century and by the turn of the 13th century, a settlement around the castle walls, which later became a royal town. The castle today has nine different parts containing many mediaeval artefacts of historical interest, prison cells and a chamber of torture. [Visit the official site of the castle]
Symbols of the Bohemian history
The history of Bohemia is rich and the castles located in its wonderful green valleys and meadows encapsulate it forever. No virtual visit could imitate the atmosphere and uniqueness of these places, but it could give a taste of their beauty.
*[Photo at the top by Petr Stěhule from Pixabay]
