Rising above the Vltava River like a storybook set in white stone, Hluboká Castle pairs medieval roots with a decidedly romantic 19th-century makeover. What began as a hard-working Gothic royal stronghold later became the Schwarzenbergs’ showpiece—an English Tudor-Gothic dream inspired by Windsor. Come for the towers and terraces, stay for the carved-wood interiors, gardens, and sweeping South Bohemian views.
Quick Facts
📍 Location: Hluboká nad Vltavou, South Bohemia, Czech Republic
🏗️ Construction Period: 13th century (origin); major rebuild 1841–1871
🏰 Architectural Style: Gothic origins; Renaissance and Baroque phases; 19th-century Neo-/Tudor Gothic (Windsor-inspired)
🎭 Famous For: Windsor Castle-inspired Neo-Gothic silhouette, white façades and many towers, lavish wood-paneled interiors, and one of the Czech Republic’s most photogenic castle exteriors
👑 Notable Figures: Přemysl Otakar II (probable founder); Johann (Jan) Adolf II von Schwarzenberg; Princess Eleonora Schwarzenberg; Prince Adam Franz von Schwarzenberg; architect Franz Beer (later Deworetzky)
🏆 UNESCO Status: No (not a UNESCO World Heritage site)
🌐 Official Website: https://www.zamek-hluboka.cz/
Map
Historical Context
Hluboká began in the second half of the 13th century as a Gothic guarding castle tied to the Bohemian crown, watching over routes along the Vltava River and frequently changing hands through royal pledges. Across the centuries it passed through major noble families, but the defining chapter started in 1661 when the Schwarzenbergs acquired it. They reshaped the fortress into a more comfortable residence—first with Renaissance adjustments and then a bold Baroque rebuilding in the early 18th century. The castle’s fairy-tale face arrived between roughly 1841 and 1871, when Johann Adolf II and Eleonora Schwarzenberg commissioned a complete romantic reconstruction in English Neo-/Tudor Gothic, consciously modeled on Windsor. Seized by the Gestapo in 1940 and later confiscated after WWII, Hluboká became state property and grew into a national tourism icon.
Gallery
Visiting Information
🗓️ Best Time to Visit: April, May, late September, and October
🗺️ Location Perks: You’re on the doorstep of South Bohemia: pair the château with a stroll through its vast English park, then continue on to nearby České Budějovice for cafés and classic Czech brewing culture.
⏳ Estimated Visit Duration: Plan to spend 2–3 hours exploring the castle and its grounds.
💡 Visiting tips: Book a guided tour slot early in peak season, then give yourself unhurried time for the park terraces and photo angles. If conditions allow, add the tower climb for panoramic views over the Vltava valley.
