49° 03′ N, 14° 26′ E
Overview
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Visiting Hluboka Castle
Visiting Hluboká Castle is an experience you’ll want to plan to make the most of your time there. The castle is not only beautiful but also full of things to see and do, both inside and out. The design is inspired by English castles with stunning woodwork, art collections, tapestries, and beautifully furnished rooms.
A great way to start or end your visit is by exploring the castle grounds, with gardens, courtyards, and terraces around the castle, which are completely free to enjoy. The view of the front of the castle is especially picture-perfect. However, don’t forget to walk around to the back, where you’ll find equally gorgeous views of the castle, the surrounding South Bohemian countryside, and the nearby Vltava River.
If you want to see the inside of Hluboka Castle, you’ll need to join one of the guided tours.
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Hluboka Castle Tours
Since Hluboka Castle is so large, with 140 rooms and 11 towers, there are several different tours to choose from, each focusing on a unique part of the castle. The regular tours run from April to October, but there’s a special winter tour usually running from November to March.
We’ll explain the different tours below, but be sure to check the castle’s website for up-to-date schedules and details about what’s available when you plan to visit Hluboka Castle.
1. Representation rooms
The Representation Rooms tour is the main tour through Hluboká Castle. This tour takes about an hour and includes the most beautiful rooms, like the smoking room, dining rooms, library, and Princess Eleonore’s personal rooms. You’ll also see stunning wood carvings on the walls and ceilings, along with furniture that shows off 19th-century luxury, impressive armoury, over 10,000 books in the library, and the portraits of the Schwarzenberg family, who lived here.
2. Private apartments
The Private Apartments Tour offers a closer look at the daily life of the Schwarzenberg family during their final years at Hluboká Castle. This one-hour tour focuses on more personal spaces like the hunting dining room, bedroom, servant room, and even original sanitary facilities. The rooms are furnished as they were in the 19th century, reflecting the family’s lifestyle and their love of hunting. It’s a more intimate tour that gives you a glimpse into the personal side of the castle and its history.
3. Chateau kitchen
During the Chateau Kitchen Tour, you get a better idea of how a grand noble household operated behind the scenes. You’ll visit the massive kitchen, located in the basement, that stretches across the entire length of the main facade. During this 30-minute tour, you’ll learn about the different sections of the kitchen, from areas for cold dishes to hot cuisine and confectionery. You’ll also see the original equipment and facilities, giving you an idea of how meals were prepared for large gatherings shortly after 1945.
4. Suite rooms
The Suite rooms tour is a fairly new tour, as this part of the castle opened to the public in 2017 after careful restoration. It takes you through three apartments and several guest rooms on the castle’s second floor, once used to host relatives, friends, and important guests of the Schwarzenberg family. The tour also includes the Stříbrnice room, where you’ll see a remarkable collection of Schwarzenberg silver.
5. Chateau tower - Lookout
The Chateau Tower Lookout Tour is perfect if you love incredible views. During this tour, you climb 245 steps to the top of the castle’s tower, where you can enjoy some incredible views. This Neo-Gothic tower is 52 meters high and was rebuilt in the mid-19th century after the original Baroque tower collapsed.
Note: The tower is closed in case of bad weather (heavy wind, rain or storm).
6. Winter tour (Basic tour)
During winter, all other tours at Hluboká Castle aren’t available, but luckily, you can still visit the inside of the castle during the special Winter Tour. Traditionally, the castle closed its doors after October 31, but now, heated rooms allow tours to run through winter.
On this special winter tour, you’ll get to see the private suites of the last four generations of the castle’s owners, starting with the Hamilton Parlour of Princess Theresa. You’ll also explore cozy rooms like her Smoking Room, the Small Dining Room, and the Hunting Dining Hall, as well as Adolf’s Study and Bedroom, along with hunting trophies, old prints, and family photos.
Ticket prices and opening hours
Visiting the gardens and grounds of Hluboká Castle is completely free, but if you want to explore the interior, ticket prices for the tours range from 160 CZK to 320 CZK, depending on the tour.
The castle’s opening hours vary by season:
- High Season (May–August): 9 AM – 5:30 PM
- Mid Season (April, September, October): 9 AM – 4:30 PM
- Low Season (November–March): 9 AM till 4 PM.
The castle is closed on Mondays, except in July and August, when it’s open daily. For detailed tour schedules and pricing, you can visit the castle’s website.
How to get there
Hluboká Castle is located in the town of Hluboká nad Vltavou, about 15 kilometers north of České Budějovice in the South Bohemia region.
The easiest way to reach Hluboka Castle is by car. It’s about a 2-hour drive from Prague, a 35-minute drive from the lovely town of Český Krumlov, or a 15-minute drive from České Budějovice. There’s a paid parking lot next to Restaurant Hubert. From here, it’s about a 10-minute uphill walk to the castle. During the high season, you can also take on a small tourist train near the parking area for a quick ride to the castle.
Practical
Car: 80 CZK or €4/day
Camper: 150 CZK or €6/day
Only cash
Two-way ticket: 80 CZK or €4
If you’re using public transport, regular buses run from České Budějovice to Hluboká nad Vltavou. From the bus stop, it’s about a 10–15 minute walk uphill to the castle. Alternatively, you can take a train to Hluboká nad Vltavou, but the station is a bit further from the castle. It’s about a 2.5-kilometer walk or a short taxi ride.
History of Hluboka Castle
Hluboká Castle has a long and interesting history. It was first built in the 13th century as a small, Gothic fortress. Over the years, it changed hands many times and was rebuilt over and over again to match the style of the time. In the 16th century, it got a Renaissance makeover, and later, in the 18th century, it was updated again in the Baroque style.
The most famous change came in the 19th century when the powerful Schwarzenberg family decided to completely redesign it. They were inspired by Windsor Castle in England, so they turned Hluboká into the grand, white, fairy-tale-like castle we see today. The family lived there until 1947, when the castle became state property.
Now, Hluboka Castle is open to visitors, and you can explore its amazing history and beautiful design up close! It is even a National Cultural monument of the Czech Republic and the second-most visited castle in the country.
Where to stay
If you’re planning to visit Hluboká Castle, you have a few great options for accommodation. Staying in Hluboká nad Vltavou itself is the most convenient, with charming hotels and guesthouses close to the castle. Alternatively, if you’re also visiting Český Krumlov, you could stay in this lovely town, which we highly recommend. For more variety, in the nearby city of České Budějovice, just 15 minutes away, you find a wider range of options, from budget to more luxurious accommodations.
Hotels
Find the best places to stay near Hluboka Castle and enjoy a comfortable trip.
Hluboká
Hluboká
Hluboká
via Booking.com
It is tolerated to spend the night with your camper in the castle parking lot. However, please note that this is not a campsite, so be sure to behave accordingly. Alternatively, you can park your camper at one of the campsites in the surrounding area, including Camping Křivonoska, Camp Bezdrev, or the private camper parking next to this playground (listed on the Park4Night app).
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Win-Win for everyone
Did you know that, if you buy or book something through our links, we receive a small commission?
However, you still pay the same and therefore have no extra costs! So a win-win for everyone. This way, we can continue to add even more travel inspiration and tips to this blog for your next adventure. Thanks a lot!
