The white Neo-Gothic castle rises above the Vltava River, with 140 rooms filled with Dutch masterpieces and crystal chandeliers. Nearby, a Baroque museum and zoo house European wildlife.
Hluboká nad Vltavou, a small town in South Bohemia, centers around a white Neo-Gothic castle with carved wooden panels, crystal chandeliers, and Dutch masterpieces. You'll find a Baroque hunting museum, a riverside golf course, and a zoo with bears, wolves, and otters along the Vltava River.
Inside Hluboká Castle
The white Tudor-style castle contains 140 rooms filled with 19th-century furnishings. You'll walk through halls with carved wooden panels, coffered ceilings, and crystal chandeliers. The private apartments display collections of paintings, silver items, and tapestries, while the kitchen maintains its original equipment from the early 1900s. The castle riding hall houses the South Bohemian Gallery's collection of Gothic art and Dutch masters.
The Castle Gardens and Park
The 190-hectare park dates from the mid-19th century when the Schwarzenberg family redesigned the grounds. Walking paths wind through formal gardens with stone lion statues and wrought-iron staircases. The castle walls include decorative elements like amber lanterns and mounted deer antlers. The park grounds are free to explore, while castle interior tours require guided visits.
Ohrada Castle and Zoo
The Baroque Ohrada Castle, built in the early 18th century, houses the Museum of Forestry, Hunting and Fishing - one of the oldest museums in the Czech Republic. At the adjacent Zoo Ohrada, you can see 300 species including European wildlife like bears, wolves, and lynx. The complex sits beside Munický pond, a 108-hectare fish pond that's the largest in the area.
Getting Around
The town lies 7 kilometers north of České Budějovice. You can reach Hluboká nad Vltavou in about 100 minutes by car from Prague or 30 minutes from Český Krumlov. The castle sits on a hill - walk five minutes uphill from town or take the local train to the main entrance. Regular trains run through České Budějovice, where you can connect to Prague-bound services.
Activities and Recreation
The 27-hole golf course stretches along the Vltava River, incorporating water channels, ponds, and sand traps into its design. You can swim in Munický pond from June through September, or rent kayaks at the river dock for paddling trips. The northern forest areas have marked hiking trails ranging from 3 to 15 kilometers in length.
