Státní zámek Hluboká

About the museum

Hluboká Chateau was founded in the mid-13th century by the Czech kings as a guard castle. Several noble families held it, among them the Pernštejns and the lords of Hradec, who in 1563 converted the Gothic castle into a Renaissance chateau. In 1661 Jan Adolf I. Schwarzenberg acquired the estate, and the Schwarzenbergs lived here until the end of 1939, when the last owner, Adolf, emigrated before the Nazis. They lost the property in 1947 under the special law Lex Schwarzenberg.

The Schwarzenbergs rebuilt the chateau twice: first in the early 18th century in the Baroque style, and then in 1840–1871 in the romantic Neo-Gothic style, including the remodelling of the park and the surrounding landscape. The reconstruction was inspired by the journeys of Prince Jan Adolf II and his wife Eleonora to England, and the main model was the royal Windsor Castle. The work was carried out by the Viennese architect Franz Beer and, after his death, mainly by the builder Damasius Deworetzky.

Today the chateau is managed by the National Heritage Institute. The tour circuits present the representative rooms, the private apartments, the kitchen and the guest rooms with a silver collection; in winter there is a special winter route. The chateau tower can be visited without a guide.

Highlights

• romantic Neo-Gothic remodelling modelled on Windsor Castle
• representative rooms with wood carvings, a library and an armoury
• private apartments of the Schwarzenberg princely couples
• kitchens of the large manor house in the basement and a silver collection
• castle tower with a view of the landscape

Permanent exhibitions

• Okruh I – Reprezentační pokoje – The piano nobile of the chateau: morning salon, reading room, smoking salon, dining rooms, library, the personal rooms of Princess Eleonora and the castle armoury.
• Okruh IV – Hostinské pokoje a sbírka stříbra – Three apartments and rooms on the second floor, where guests of the princely family were accommodated, and a collection of silver from Stříbrnice.

Operated by

Národní památkový ústav, Státní zámek Hluboká

Admission & discounts

The price of the main item applies to circuit I, Representative Rooms. Payment is possible by card and in cash. Free admission is also granted to holders of free NPÚ tickets, NPÚ employees and holders of the Náš člověk card.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The accessibility statement is given in the footer of the website; details on the step-free access of the tour circuits are not given in the website's overview.

Kids & families

Children under 5 enter free; children aged 6–17 pay the reduced admission.

Getting there & parking

The chateau lies 15 km north of České Budějovice (15–20 minutes by car) and about 150 km south of Prague. From Prague take the D1 and the road E55 towards Tábor, then road no. 146.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

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