Castles and chateaux Czechia’s “family silver”The most valuable things Czechs have inherited from their ancestors are historical monuments. Anyone who visits Czechia for the first time is surprised by their abundance and their state of preservation, how impressively they are set in the surrounding landscape, the splendid design of the buildings, the variety of architectural styles, and their excellent operation. Visitors are charmed by the special energy they radiate, the unique atmosphere which greets them as they step inside. And those who are already familiar with this from previous visits know that the multitude of places worth visiting, photographing and enthusiastically telling friends about is almost inexhaustible – and the experience is always powerful and wondrous … More than a millennium of Czech history has produced some two thousand castles, chateaux, fortresses, and their ruins. We invite you to come explore their remarkable stories and secrets. In this book we present a selection of the most beautiful places that are made accessible to the public by their current owners. Guides will be on hand to tell you all about the fascinating fates of individual castles and chateaux and their inhabitants over the centuries. Let your imagination be swept away by these stories. You will tour sumptuous interiors, furnished with the refined tastes and practically unlimited financial resources of their bygone owners. You will see a vast variety of collections and art works amassed with love and pride by generations of noble families. You will climb towers affording outstanding views of the surrounding countryside, lose yourself in the mysterious labyrinths of subterranean corridors, and inhale the fresh scent of ancient parks and lush, perfectly groomed historical gardens.Czech castles and chateaux are not just sleepy museums where time has stood still. They also offer historical festivals and markets, night-time tours, costumed guides, displays of trained birds of prey, demonstrations of ancient crafts, and tastings of traditional Czech delicacies, as well as theatre and opera performances, fencing matches, concerts, art festivals, exhibitions and workshops – all announced in advance on their individual websites. And if that is not enough, you can experience a taste of castle life for yourself: Almost all of these monuments rent out their most attractive historical rooms for special occasions such as wedding ceremonies. So please step inside …
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