Most visitors to the Czech Republic head to Prague, and forget that Czechia has a lot more to explore! Some of the most beautiful castles in Europe are found in the East Bohemia region of the Czech Republic just an hour or two from Prague, and I had the chance to visit some of them last year. If you are looking for special places to visit in the Czech Republic then make sure you add these Czech castles to your list!
This article was sponsored by Visit Czechia to celebrate #Czech30
Where is East Bohemia & Why Should You Visit?
East Bohemia is a large region in the Czech Republic, to the east of Prague, and this year is a fantastic time to visit as it is the 30th anniversary of the Czech Republic, when Czechoslovakia officially split into Czechia and Slovakia.
Make the most of your time in the Czech Republic and get out of the cities to explore!
If you hire a car, you could take a day trip from Prague or Brno and drive here in an hour or two, but I’d recommend spending at least 2 or 3 days in the region visiting the castles, enjoying the countryside and crossing the longest suspension bridge in the world – Sky Bridge 721.
While there are plenty of things to do in East Bohemia to keep you busy, I’ll stick to the castles for this article. If you want to read more about Sky Bridge 721, check out my detailed post here.

How to Get Around
There are good transport links between the main towns in East Bohemia and Prague or Brno with trains running from Prague direct to Pardubice in around 1 hour and 20 minutes, and from Brno to Litomyšl in just under 3 hours.
However, in order to explore the region properly and to visit all of the castles, it is much easier to hire a car and drive yourself.

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Where to Stay in East Bohemia?
Start your castle-hunting adventure in Litomyšl. It’s an easy 2 hour drive from Prague and home to Litomyšl Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the best castles in the Czech Republic to visit.
We stayed at the Hotel Zlatá Hvězda, a lovely hotel on Smetanovo square. The hotel is housed in a 19th-century building but has comfortable modern furnishings and a great view of the square from the rooftop.
From Litomyšl it’s less than 20 minutes’ drive to Nové Hrady Chateau, then head to Pardubice for your second night.
In Pardubice we stayed at Hotel 100 which was a quaint hotel in a great location close to Pardubice Chateau. Hotel 100 is on a cobbled street in the old town of Pardubice and had a garden out the back to enjoy the sunshine.

Which Castles to Visit in East Bohemia?
There are more than 200 castles in the Czech Republic, from the enormous Prague Castle to the striking Hluboka Castle and fairytale Cesky Krumlov, and everything in between. In East Bohemia, there are some stunning Czech castles close to Prague which are perfect for getting off the beaten path without being too far away.
I visited three castles in East Bohemia, each with a unique style and character. That’s what fascinated me the most about these Czech castles – they are all completely different!
Litomyšl Castle
Litomyšl Castle, located in the town of Litomyšl, is a Renaissance Chateau, and one of the largest Renaissance castles in the Czech Republic. It was inscribed on the list of UNESCO World Cultural Heritage in 1999 as it is an “outstanding example of an arcaded Renaissance country residence”.

This style of architecture was first developed in Italy and evolved in Bohemia to create a special building like this one. The castle was built in the 1560-1580s by Vratislav of Pernštejn as a gift for his wife and was extended in the 17th and 18th centuries, with Baroque alterations made by the subsequent owners.
The facades of the chateau are covered with ornate sgraffito decorations and arches, and the interior rooms are beautifully maintained. There are several additional buildings which make up the larger castle complex, including the Brewery, which was the birthplace of the famous Czech composer Bedřich Smetana.

One of the stand-out features of the castle is the family theatre, which was built in 1797, and has been preserved in its entirety, including the original stage machinery and lighting equipment. The Waldstein–Wartenberg family and their friends performed shows here for local dignitaries and their household staff.

You can take 50-minute-long tours of the castle to learn more about the history of this special place and to see some of the most beautiful rooms in the castle, and the theatre. Entry prices (including the tour) are 200 CZK per adult (around $10 USD), with discounts for young people, children, seniors and people with disabilities. Kids under 5 go free.
During July and August, Litomyšl Castle is open from 9am to 4pm from Tuesday to Sunday (closed on Monday). Opening times reduce during off-peak times, so check the official website for up-to-date times and more information about the tours.


Separate from the tours of the castle you can also visit the cellars for an 80 CZK fee (around $4 USD) and taste wine which has been matured in the castle cellars, and purchase bottles.
There is an exhibition by Czech sculptor Olbram Zoubek in the cellars, including a striking piece modelled on the death mask that Zoubek took of Jan Palach, a student who burned himself to death in protest over the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968.
Other Things to Do in Litomyšl Town

Other things to do in Litomyšl include visiting the stunning Piarist Church of the Discovery of the Holy Cross, a Baroque church built from 1714-1725. Head up to the roof for lovely views of Litomyšl Castle from above.
Take a stroll around the Monastery gardens behind the church to see more of Zoubek’s sculptures, and admire the colourful buildings around Smetanovo Square.
Have dinner at Pivovar a restaurace Veselka, an excellent informal restaurant which has its own brewery right next door. Choose from a menu of hearty Czech dishes like goulash and pork cutlet – although you’ll need Google Translate as the menu is only available in Czech!
Zámek Nové Hrady
Just a 20-minute drive from Litomyšl is Zámek Nové Hrady. This Chateau is one of the few typically Rococo heritage buildings in the Czech Republic. The palace was built in 1774-1777 and designed in the style of French summer residences and has beautiful gardens and a maze. It is often referred to as the “Czech Versailles”, or “Little Schönbrunn” in reference to the Palace in Vienna.

The chateau is now owned by Magda and Petr Kučer, who bought it in 1997 and lovingly restored it to its original appearance. As it is privately owned, the owners don’t receive any funding from the government, and entrance fees go towards maintenance and restoration of the grounds.
There is an 80 CZK fee to enter the castle grounds, and the Motorcycle Museum and Hat Gallery are 80 CZK and 50 CZK respectively.
At the very least, take the time to visit the gardens. There are various areas to explore, including the French Garden, Rose Garden, Italian Garden and a Green Theatre, as well as a large English-style park and a labyrinth.

There is also a deer farm next door, where you can see some of the animals from the lookout point above the motorcycle museum.
We had a tour of the castle interior which was well worth it too if you have the time. It was fascinating to see a castle which is still very much lived in. The castle also hosts wedding ceremonies and special events such as the international opera festival Smetana’s Litomyšl.

Guided tours inside the castle last for 45 minutes and run daily on the hour from 10pm until 4pm. The tour includes an explanation of the history of the mansion, its ongoing reconstruction, a visit to the ceremonial hall, adjacent private spaces and an exhibition of furniture art from the collections of the Museum of Applied Arts in Prague.
The tour costs 120 CZK for adults and 80 CZK for children. Tours are usually conducted in Czech, with an additional fee of 140 CZK payable for tours in English.
Kunětická Hora Castle
Kunětická Hora Castle is a ruined Gothic castle perched on a hilltop to the north of Pardubice, a 15-minute drive from the town. I’d suggest spending a night in Pardubice to visit the castle and then enjoy the town for the rest of the day.

It’s not certain exactly when a castle was first built on this volcanic hill, but it could be as early as the 14th century. The castle played an important role during the Hussite Wars and from 1421 it became a fortress and stronghold of Diviš Bořek of Miletínek, a Hussite captain.
He rebuilt the castle with a well-fortified front area where his troops could camp, and some of these elements are still preserved today. The castle complex was rebuilt again between 1491 and 1548 by the lords of Pernštejn, and turned into a huge twin-towered castle with an extraordinary fortification system.
The castle held a strategic position during the 30 Years War, but was conquered in 1645, plundered and burned down. This marked the end of the Kuneticka Hora Castle as a castle and fort, and the ruins crumbled – and were pillaged for stones used for construction in nearby Pardubice.
In the 20th Century, an extensive reconstruction and restoration project led by the Museums Association in Pardubice has given the ruins new life as a museum and cultural event venue, with the castle hosting events like music festivals, film screenings and open-air theatre.
To get to the castle, park at the bottom of the hill and walk up to the castle, or for a different experience, visit Ranč pod Kuňkou across the road and take a horseback ride instead!

The views from the hill are lovely, and it is free to walk around the outside of the castle – as we had our horses we didn’t go inside but if you would like to go inside there is a 160 CZK entrance fee. Similar to Litomyšl Castle, the opening hours vary depending on the time of year so check the official website for details.
Other Things to Do in Pardubice
Pardubice is a lovely town, famous for its gingerbread and sports, in particular the Velká Pardubická (Great Pardubice) Steeplechase.


Take a walk around the Old Town, and see the Town Hall and Pardubice Castle (another castle!) which is now home to the East Bohemia Museum, then head up inside the Green Gate for panoramic views. Don’t forget to buy some gingerbread while you’re here!
On your way to Pardubice from Zámek Nové Hrady you could also stop off at Chrudim, another pretty Czech town.
I hope this article has inspired you to visit East Bohemia and some of these special castles. These aren’t the only castles in East Bohemia you can visit though, some others include Choltice Château, Josefov Fortress, the Châteaux of Orlice, Pecka Castle, or Litice nad Orlicí Castle, among many others! Take a look at the Visit Czechia website for more inspiration!