Zámek Choltice
An Early Baroque château in Choltice with the chapel of St Romedius, château exhibitions, a museum of water goblins and a black theatre; tours only with a guide.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The first written mention of Choltice dates from 1285. The original water fortress stood on a peninsula in a pond, and in the 16th century it was owned by the Gerštorf family. After the Thirty Years’ War the fortress was uninhabitable, and it was therefore decided to build a new seat for Romedius Konstantin Thun, the founder of the Choltice majorat (entailed estate) of the Thun family. According to a design by Luca di Rossi of Pisa, the château was to have the shape of a square with three wings, but a lack of money allowed only about half of the planned building to be constructed.
The château is Early Baroque. The octagonal chapel of St Romedius is built into the south wing and is decorated with rich stucco and painted decoration; since 1786 it has served as the parish church. The sala terrena has also been preserved, and in 1672 the count and countess founded a pharmacy for the poor here. After the Second World War the château was bought by the local national committee; today it is owned by the market town (městys) of Choltice.
The first tour route leads through the chapel, the sala terrena, the archaeological exhibition, the Baroque pharmacy, the library, the château dining room and the ceremonial hall, up to the trophy staircase. The second route, aimed mainly at children, consists of the water goblin museum and the black theatre exhibition.
Highlights
- Early Baroque chapel of St Romedius with rich stucco and painted decoration
- Sala terrena and archaeological exhibition
- Baroque château pharmacy founded in 1672
- Trophy staircase and ceremonial hall
- Water goblin museum and black theatre exhibition for children
Permanent exhibitions
- 1. prohlídkový okruh – zámecké expozice – Chapel of St Romedius, sala terrena, archaeological exhibition, Baroque pharmacy, library, château dining room, ceremonial hall and trophy staircase.
- Muzeum vodníků – An exhibition for children on the species of water goblins in our country and their peculiarities.
- Expozice černého divadla – A tour of the rooms with illuminated fairy tales and a demonstration of how black theatre works.
- Operated by
- Městys Choltice
Admission & discounts
| Adults | 110 Kč |
|---|---|
| Reduced | 90 Kčchildren from 6 years old, students, seniors over 65 and holders of a ZTP card |
| Children & teens | 90 Kčfree up to age 5 · On route 1, children up to and including 5 years old enter free; on route 2, children up to and including 2 years old enter free. |
| Seniors | 90 KčSeniors over 65. |
| Visitors with disabilities | 90 KčHolders of a ZTP card; holders of a ZTP/P card enter free. |
| Students & apprentices | 90 Kč |
| Families | 500 KčFamily admission for routes 1 and 2 combined: 2 adults and up to 3 children. |
| Route 2 – water goblin museum and black theatre | 80 KčSingle admission for everyone from the age of 3. |
| Routes 1 and 2 combined – full price | 180 Kč |
| Routes 1 and 2 combined – reduced price | 160 Kč |
| Route 3 – chapel of St Romedius | 80 KčSingle admission for everyone from the age of 6. |
| Photography inside | 30 Kč |
| Filming inside | 50 Kč |
The basic admission applies to route 1 (the chapel of St Romedius and the château exhibitions). Payment at the ticket office is in cash only.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 5 |
|---|---|
| Family ticket | 500 Kč · Family admission for routes 1 and 2 combined: 2 adults and up to 3 children. |
The second tour route (the water goblin museum and the black theatre exhibition) is aimed mainly at children.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Choltice, náměstí · 186 m
The nearest bus stops are Choltice, náměstí (186 m) and Choltice, u školy (305 m). The nearest train stops are Choltice (2 km), Jeníkovice (3 km) and Veselí u Přelouče (3 km).
By car
Parking available
Parking for cars and buses is directly at the château; driving into the grounds and parking outside the designated areas is prohibited.
The château lies about 15 km west of Pardubice and 8 km south of Přelouč. On foot it is 8.5 km from Přelouč and 6.5 km from Heřmanův Městec; cycle routes nos. 4127, 4129 and 4130 run nearby.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
- Weddings / ceremonies
The château offers wedding ceremonies, banquets and receptions; the booking calendar is on the château’s website.
Inquiries & detailsPlan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 60 min |
|---|---|
| Photography | Photography inside the château interiors and the chapel costs CZK 30; filming costs CZK 50. |
| Good to know | The château can only be viewed with a guide. A group must have at least 4 people; tours can be booked for a specific date and time, and tickets must be bought at least 10 minutes before the start. Children under 10 are admitted only when accompanied by adults. Route 1 takes about 60 minutes, route 2 about 30 minutes. |
