Orlik - October 2006

(Pisek Region) Founded by Premysl Otakar II as a royal castle on a high rock overlooking the River Vltava valley, it belonged to the king until 1357. The Svamberks converted it into a Renaissance palace and the Schwarenberks came into possession of the property in 1717. Its present appearance comes from a neo-Gothic reconstruction its the historical important interiors.

Krasov - October 2006

Marianska Tynice - October 2006

Rabi - October 2006

(Klatovy Region) The most extensive ruin of a castle in Bohemia that is likely to have been founded by Bohuslav of Velhartice at the beginning of the 14th century. Jan Zizka lost his second eye there in 1421 during the Hussite siege. Under the rule of Put Svihovsky post-1479, the builder Benedict Rejt took part in reconstructions and the castle became the best-fortified residence in Central Europe. Later on, the castle began to dilapidated and was completely plundered in the Thirty Years War.

Velhartice - October 2006

(Klatovy Region) Early in the 14th, Busek of Velhartice, a chamberlain of the prince who went on to be Emperor Karl IV, created this Goyhic castle, which has a double palace layout. A unique massive stone bridge connects a partly preserved castle called 'Elysian Mansion' with a tower known as Punta (tub).

Svihov - October 2006

(Klatovy Region)A very well-kept Gothic lowland castle with an cleverly thought-out fortifications and water moats. It replaced an older fort from the first half of the 14th century. Puta Svihovsky from Ryzmberk and his two sons accomplished a complete late-Gothic redevelopment and a great architect, Benedict Rejt, designed the flawless outer defences, among other things.

Strekov - September 2006

(Usti nad Labem Region) Pesik of Veitmile was appointed to construct the castle by King John of Luxembourg, who also bestowed it on him as fiefdom in 1319. Its last owners - the Lobkowicz family - had the castle markedly rebuilt and extended from 1564. During the Thirty Years War, the castle was plundered by the Swedes and lay abound from the 17th century. Many artists were inspired by it, for instance R.Wagner composed his opera Tannhauser there in 1842. Martin Lobkowicz is the present owner.

Cervena Lhota - September 2006

(Jindrichnuv Hradec Region) This mansion occupies the place of a former fortress from the second half of the 15th century erected on a rocky islet in a lake. In the years following 1530, it was refurbished in the Renaissance manner by the family of Kaba from Rybnany; further alterations were made around 1600 under the reign of Vilem Puta of Dirna and in 1641 by Vilem Slavata of Chlum and Kosumberk.

Zviretice - September 2006

(Mlada Boleslav Region) Zdislav of Lembek, the highest burgrave, had this aristocratic castle featuring a defensive tower built in the 1310s. The names of his sons Herman and Markvart were consequently derived from the name of the castle Zviritice. In the first quarter and the second half of the 16th century, it was reconstructed and renovated after a fire in 1693. However, in 1720 after being struck by flash of lighting it burned out again. From then on, it as abandoned and fell into disrepair.

Cheb - September 2006

(Cheb Region) Built in the first half of the 12th century for the lords of Vohburg, Cheb Castle overlooks the River Ohre. It was established in the town of the same name on the site of a former fort, which at the time belonged to Bavaria. In the mid 1160s, Emperor Friedrich Barbarossa had the castle rebuilt. One hundred years later, the area ones again formed part of Bohemia and Cheb became a royal castle. Its Black Tower? place with compound windows and, above all, the single story Chapel of St.Erhart and Ursula remain from the Roman Construction. Having been altered into a Baroque fortress, it was subsequently destroyed by the French army and its ruins have been deteriorating ever since.

Hasistejn - September 2006

(Chomutov Region) A ruin of a castle hidden in the Krusne Mountains built at the beginning of the 14h century on an important route. The Lobkowicz family carried out an extensive late-Gothic reconstruction, converting it into an ostentatious residence with a big library and a collection of astrological paraphernalia. After a fire in 1560, the castle gradually dilapidated; the tower now used as a viewpoint.

Kasperk - September 2006

(Klatovy Region) Its founder King Charles IV had the castle, originally known as Karlsberg, built in 1356 in order to defend borders and nearby gold mines. The neighbouring town of Kasperske Hory purchased the by then already abandoned property, which took the form of mansion placed between two towers sited on an elongated mountain ridge in 1617.

Marianske Lazne - August 2006

Mariánské Lázně is the second largest Czech spa, which is very rich in mineral springs. There are forty springs within the area and one hundred in the immediate vicinity. This spa was developed at the beginning of the 19th century in a valley where many excellent healing streams spring from the ground.

Frydland - August 2006

(Liberec Region) The noble family of Ronov founded this early-Gothic 'bergfrit' type castle whilst conducting important business in the middle of the 13th century, from which only the cylindrical tower has been preserved. A Renaissance refurbishment took place in the 16th century and during the Thirty Years War, Albrecht of Wallenstein adopted it as his headquarters. Renaissance alterations in 1867-1869 lent the mansion its current look.

Landstejn - August 2006

(Jindrichuv Hradec Region) Huge Ruins of one-time royal Roman castle with a palace in-between two towers originating from the early 13th century. This border fort on the Czech-Austrian frontier was gradually extended and other buildings and ramparts added. In 1771, when a flash of lighting struck, the castle burnt out and was reduced to ruins.

Vranov nad Dyji - August 2006

Znojmo Region) The first Castle on a steep rock above the River Dyje was documented in 1100. Only a prismatic tower in the barbican and a part of the fortification wall remain from the later construction of a border castle from the 13th century. After a fire in 1665, it was converted into a Baroque mansion in the tree buildings stages to the design of the a Viennese architect Jan B. Fisher from Erlach. A massive Ancestors' Hall (1687-1695), having the ground plan of an ellipse, dramatically affects the silhouette of the castle.

Bitov - August 2006

Znojmo Region) A border castle on a hill that once stood over the confluence of the Rivers Zeletava and Dyje, now overlooking The Vranovska dam, was founded in the place of an older Premyslid fortifications, In the 19 century, the Daun family altered the castle romantically with its tree blade-like towers in neo-Gothic style, witch house valuable connections. Its last owner wanted to convert the castle into a Zoo in the early 20th century, his was assortment of stuffed animals has been preserved and is still on display today.

Svojanov - August 2006

(Svitavy Region) Premysl Otakar II established the castle around 1265 to support royalty during his journey from Litomysl to Brno. King Charls IV included it among castles that should not be separated from the royal crown not mortgaged off. In the 13th century, the castle belonged to the Queev Kunhuta, who pawned it to Zavis of Falkenstejn. The castle was not lived in from the 17 century, and it was employed as a factory for the manufacture of graphite that was mined nearby in the mid 1800s.

Telc - August 2006

(Jihlava Region) Zachrias of Hradec created this Renessance Mansion from the older Gothic castle with water defences, and fashioned an extensive and ostentatious Renaissance residence with complex ground plan, courtyards and gardens. The castle's collections are on view in the heavily decorated interiors. The museum of Vysocina in Jihlava - The Telc Museum and Gallery of Jan Zrzavy are also housed here.

Klenova - July 2006

(Klatovy region) A ruin of a sizable bipartite castle that the lords of Klenova and Janovice founded at the end of the 13th century. The late-Gothic fortification is considered the peak of Czech 15th century fortification architecture. Within 16th and 17th centuries, it was partially converted into a mansion, however, it was later on only referred to a ruin. Romantic alterations during the 19th century created the ideal circumstances for an art gallery to be installed there, which exhibits works from the 19th and 20th centuries.

Cesky Krumlov - July 2006

(Cesky Krumlov Region) The so-called 'Hradek' is the oldest part of this large property featuring a massive Renaissance cylindrical tower from the late 13 century. Originally, it was residence of lords from Krumlov and Rozmberk, who converted the original castle into a Renaissance mansion early in the 14th century. An upper castle and outer defences were erected on a rising rocky ridge. Leading artists participated in the reconstruction that lasted until the late 18th century. Large gardens and unique Baroque theatre adjoin the mansion.

Trosky - July 2006

(Semily Region) The romantic ruin of a Gothic castle with towels on two peaks of a basaltic igneous rock called Panna (Virgion) and Baba is a dominating feature of the territory known as the Bohemian Paradise. Between the towels, a single storey two-wing palace was annexed. Cenek of Vartemberk established the castle before 1396 that was burnt out during Thirty Years War in 1648 and consequently abandoned.

Bezdez - July 2006

(Ceska Lipa Region) A silhouette of ruin of the castle established by Premysl Otakar II in 1264 on the higher of the two neighbouring hills is visible from a distance. Otakar's son Wenceslas II and Ota Braniborsky were kept there as prisoners in 1279. In the 17th century. the abandoned castle was sought out by pilgrims and later became a monastery. The greatly admired early-Gothic chapel of St.Michael marks Bezdez out as unique example of 13th century castle architecture, having experienced no subsequent alterations.

Rabi - July 2006

(Klatovy Region) The most extensive ruin of a castle in Bohemia that is likely to have been founded by Bohuslav of Velhartice at the beginning of the 14th century. Jan Zizka lost his second eye there in 1421 during the Hussite siege. Under the rule of Put Svihovsky post-1479, the builder Benedict Rejt took part in reconstructions and the castle became the best-fortified residence in Central Europe. Later on, the castle began to dilapidated and was completely plundered in the Thirty Years War.

Krivoklat - July 2006

(Rakovnik Region) The commencement of the well-maintained castle harks back to the reigns of Premysl Otakar I and his successor Wenceslas I. A minor upper castle with a three-winged palace and round residential donjon in the ramparts is the most significant part. The roomier lower castle comprises farm and defensive buildings including a black kitchen. During the reign of Vladislav Jagiellon, Hans Spiesse converted the castle premises, along with its richly decorated Gothic chapel, into one of the most imposing residence in Central; Europe, even competing with royal palaces. Krivoklat often served as a prison, for instance young Charles IV was kept there by his father John of Luxembourg, as were Bishop Jan Augusta and an English alchemist Edward Kelly in the 16th century. Architects Humbert Walcher von Molthein, Josef Mocker and Kamil Hilbert conducted the most recent restorations, in particular in the 19th century.

Ledec nad Saz - July 2006

Cesky Sternberg - July 2006

(Benesov Region) Zdeslav of Divisov established the castle situated on the rock overlooking the River Sazava as his new family home prior to 1241. The family crest - a golden star on a blue background - gave it its name. Uniquely, the castle has been in the possession of one family throughout the centuries right up to the present day. The original Gothic buildings we amalgamated in a reconstruction that took place in the middle of 17th century, lending the entire complex a rather compact form. The interiors are richly furnished with valuable objects and family collections.

Orlik - July 2006

Pisek Region) Founded by Premysl Otakar II as a royal castle on a high rock overlooking the River Vltava valley, it belonged to the king until 1357. The Svamberks converted it into a Renaissance palace and the Schwarenberks came into possession of the property in 1717. Its present appearance comes from a neo-Gothic reconstruction its the historical important interiors.

Karlovy Vary - July 2006

Hradec Kralove - April 2006

Ostrava - April 2006