Many Czech castles and palaces guard within their walls treasures of incalculable worth. Enjoy a tour of rare collections of paintings, porcelain, or arms and armour, or accept an invitation to a medieval joust or a chamber concert. Afterwards, walk through the places where history left its footprints, leaving the castles to follow the traces of the great battles of European history.
Gothic castles
Pernštejn
Pernštejn, one of the best-preserved Gothic fortresses in Europe, is the true goal of those who desire a return to the age when knighthood was in flower. Even today, this castle, the survivor of many a harsh siege, evokes the enchantment of the era of chivalry, and the tumult of medieval times.
Bouzov
Confirming the exceptional qualities of Castle Bouzov is the attention it has received from film directors over the years. This castle is a fairy-tale affair, not only from the outside, but inside as well.
Tips for the visitor
Schedule your trip to Bouzov in September or October, when you can visit the castle at night and meet with its ghosts!
Křivoklát
Křivoklát is a former royal castle dating back to the 12th century. Attractions for visitors include a library with tens of thousands of historic volumes, and an extensive exhibition of hunting trophies.
Military history
Terezín
In the town of Terezín stands the building originally constructed as a military fort by Empress Marie Theresa, perfectly preserved from the 18th century. Its greater fame or infamy, though, dates from World War Two, when it served as an internment camp for Jews from across Europe. Now it contains the Monument to the Victims of Nazism (Památník obětem nacismu) (www.pamatnik-terezin.cz).
Fortification systems of Czechoslovakia
The fortification system constructed in 1934-38 consists of several thousand structures of differing types. Though ultimately unsuccessful, the design, technical equipment and overall concept of the Czechoslovak fortifications were among the most advanced of their day. Even today, many of the bunkers near the national borders still stand, and are well worth a visit. The original bunker network numbered up to 10 000 separate structures.
Tips for the visitor
The HaničkaFort near Rokytnice in West Bohemia is also worth visiting.
Military History Institute (Vojenský historický ústav)
The Military History Institute (www.militarymuseum.cz) administers the Military Technical Museum, the Aircraft Museum and the Army Museum.
Battle re-enactments
Re-enactment of the Battle of Austerlitz (Slavkov)
On December 2, 1805 Napoleon defeated a combined Russian and Austrian force at the “Battle of the Three Emperors” near the South Moravian village of Slavkov, better known internationally by its German name of Austerlitz (www.austerlitz.org). Every year thousands of visitors arrive below Santon Hill to watch a re-enactment of the manoeuvres during the original battle. One of the largest events of its kind in Europe, it is attended by hundreds of “soldiers” in period uniforms.
The Battle of Königgratz (Chlum u Hradce Králové)
Every year, the anniversary of one of the bloodiest battles of the Austro-Prussian War – the Battle of Königgratz – is held at Chlum u Hradce Králové (July 3, 1866) with a memorial ceremony and re-enactments of the battle. At the centre of the battlefield stands a museum (www.muzeumhk.cz), serving as the centre of events associated with the battle’s anniversary.
Mladějov – Blosdorf 1915
Every August in the Industrial Museum of Mladějov in Moravia, a commemoration of a battle from World War One, known as Mladějov – Blosdorf 1915 (www.mladejov.cz) is held. The aim is to reconstruct a battle on the Russian-Austrian front.
