Hluboká Castle: A fairytale castle in South Bohemia

Near Budweis, there is a fairytale castle that we did not expect quite like this. As we approached Hluboká Castle, it felt almost like being in a Disney movie. Brilliant white battlements, playful turrets, and oriel windows rise up right out of the middle of the South Bohemian forest. Hluboká is rightly often referred to as the “Czech Windsor”. For us, it was undoubtedly one of the most romantic castles in Central Europe.

Our Visit: Between Tourist Bustle and Idyllic Silence

We had incredible luck with the weather during our visit, which made the white facade of the castle literally glow. A little tip in advance: be prepared for a lot of people! As we arrived, several tour buses were just rolling in.

But don’t worry: While visitors stood at the castle waiting for their tours, we enjoyed a wonderful tranquility and almost deserted paths in the park.

From Knight’s Castle to Magnificent Palace: The History

In the middle of the 13th century, the Bohemian king had a defiant, Gothic guard castle built on a rock above the Vltava river. Its purpose was purely military: he wanted control over the waterways and a demonstration of the crown’s power.

In the first centuries, Hluboká was a traveling trophy of power. Kings chronically suffering from a lack of money repeatedly pledged the castle to noble families. Whoever ruled here called the shots in South Bohemia.

The Era of the Schwarzenbergs

In 1661, Johann Adolf I of Schwarzenberg bought the complex. The family was immensely rich, powerful, and diplomatically skilled. Under their rule, the old castle was first transformed into a magnificent Baroque palace.

Princess Eleonore of Schwarzenberg and her husband Prince Johann Adolf II traveled to England in 1838 for the coronation of Queen Victoria. There they visited Windsor Castle and Eleonore immediately fell in love with it. She was fascinated by the “Tudor Gothic”, the battlements, the turrets, and the romantic austerity of English architecture.

Back in Bohemia, she made the plan that turned the castle into one of the most impressive sights in the Czech Republic. The Baroque Hluboká had to give way. She wanted her own “Windsor on the Vltava”.

The reconstruction (1840–1871) was a gigantic undertaking. The old castle was gutted down to the foundation walls. 140 magnificent rooms, 11 towers, beautiful wood carvings in the library, and the famous riding hall were created. The castle became a status symbol of the high nobility with the most modern luxury (including central heating!).

Expropriation and State Ownership

The Schwarzenbergs inhabited their dream castle for not even a full century. Adolf of Schwarzenberg was a resolute opponent of the Nazis. When the Gestapo confiscated the castle in 1940, he had to flee into exile. The swastika flag flew over the battlements of Eleonore’s dream. After the war, the Schwarzenbergs did not return. In 1947, the Czechoslovak government passed the “Lex Schwarzenberg”. This law was created solely to nationalize the enormous property of the family. Today, Hluboká belongs to the Czech state.

Architectural Highlights: More Appearance than Reality?

Hluboká is considered the most significant building of romantic Neo-Gothic (Tudor style) in Central Europe.

The battlements, loopholes, and the massive towers (11 in total) have no military use whatsoever. They are pure decoration to appear “old” and “defensive”. Everywhere you can find coats of arms, stone heads, and complex ornaments on the gleaming white facade, which were meant to emphasize the status of the Schwarzenbergs.

The Creepy Door Knocker (The Raven and the Turk)

Probably the most photographed detail of the castle is the massive door handle at the entrance gate. A bronze raven that is in the process of pecking out the eye of a severed head (recognizable by a turban and the distinctive mustache).

This is not a scary story to deter peddlers, but proud family history. It commemorates the conquest of the fortress of Raab (Győr) in 1598 by Adolf von Schwarzenberg in the fight against the Ottomans (Turks). Emperor Rudolf II subsequently allowed the Schwarzenbergs to expand their coat of arms: The raven stands for the birds of death on the battlefield, the head for the defeated enemy. It is a brutal symbol of victory, cast in elegant bronze.

What Awaits the Visitor Inside

The interior of the castle can only be visited as part of a guided tour. Photography is not allowed.

The interior is almost even more impressive than the facade, because the Schwarzenbergs did not skimp on luxury.

• The Woodwork: Pay special attention to the walls and ceilings. Hundreds of craftsmen carved ornate paneling over many years, which gives the rooms a warm, elegant atmosphere.
• The Library: For many visitors, the most beautiful room in the castle. With thousands of books, huge globes, and an almost sacred silence, it is a dream for every bookworm.
• The Castle Kitchen: A surprising highlight! In the basement, you can see how advanced the household already was in the 19th century. With huge stoves, special devices for keeping food warm, and even an elevator for the food, this was a high-tech zone of its time.

A Walk in the Park: The Perfect Place to Take a Breath

The castle is embedded in a spacious English landscape park. We strolled through the park for a long time and enjoyed the view of the castle and the view of the surroundings.

The park, just like the castle, was laid out perfectly. Every group of trees, every path, and every visual axis was composed to create the perfect landscape picture.

The Historic Water Tower of Hluboká Castle

A few steps away from the large streams of tourists, we discovered the Vodojem zámku Hluboká, the historic water reservoir of the castle.

When the Schwarzenberg family had the castle rebuilt in the romantic Tudor style, they thought not only of aesthetics but also of modern comfort. A complex water supply was necessary to provide the magnificent gardens, the fountains, and the castle itself with water from the Vltava. The “Vodojem” was the heart of this system.

Visitor Information

Address

Hluboká Castle,
Zámek 142,
373 41 Hluboká nad Vltavou, Tschechien

Published 5 August 2026