Czech Castles. Individual Tourism

Here you can find pictures and stories of castles and cities I have visited in Czech Republic. You are welcome to visit my blog for more news.

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About Czech Republic

The Czech Republic is a small landlocked country in Central Europe, situated south-east of Germany and bordering with Austria to the south, Poland to the north and Slovakia (with which it used to form one country of Czechoslovakia) to the south-east. (Total area: 78,866 sq km, Population 10,235,455 (July 2006 est.)). Capital of the country is Prague (population 1.2 million).   Click for more information about Czech Republic

Castles and Mansions in Czech Republic

It was in the 11th century that the first castles began to appear in the country. The building of such properties reached a peak in the early 13th century and carried on for the next 150-200 years. As well as being residents, they served as bases to oversee territories gained or held, and, of course, they fortifications proved useful in times of war and upheaval, particularly throughout the entire Middle Ages. In later years, such citadels were extended and improved in a manner befitting the period and new ones erected on sites with natural defenses. These might include being high up and on a hillside with vertical drops or having rivers or dams as barriers. It is possible, therefore, to split them up into two camps - promontory ones, castles on peaks, bluffs or hillsides and lowland ones, those in proximity to water or mudbanks. Builders viewed them as three main types, property for royalty, nobility, and for the church.

A major change happened in the 16th century when methods of combat and warfare were different, times were more peaceful and power and authority stabilized in the country. It was no longer necessary to have a fortified castle, so construction of large mansions became all the rage, with the emphasis on luxury and comfort rather defense. A number of castles were converted into sumptuous residences, some retaining their medieval appearance. Others were less fortunate, however, and having been abandoned, they fell into ruin. Fore the next 300 years, new mansions were built in the Baroque, Rococo, Classicist and Empire styles. Trends and fashions vary throughout the ages, in the 19th century the neo Gothic and neo-Renaissance were in favour and former castles and mansions underwent alteration, which also marked their final phase of reconstruction. All these citadels and stately homes, some of which go back nearly a thousand years, are an enduring and inherent part of the Czech Republic, its countryside and history.

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ABC of Castles in CZ

Sites listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List:

• 1992 Historic Centre of Prague;
• 1992 Historic Centre of Cesky Krumlov;
• 1992 Historic Centre of Telc;
• 1994 Pilgrimage Church of St. John of Nepomuk at Zelena Hora;
• 1995 Kutna Hora: Historical Town Centre with the Church of Saint
  Barbara and the Cathedral of our Lady at Sedlec;
• 1996 Lednice-Valtice Cultural Landscape;
• 1998 Holasovice Historical Village Reservation;
• 1998 Gardens and Castle at Kromeriz;
• 1999 Litomysl Castle;
• 2000 Holy Trinity Column in Olomouc;
• 2001 Tugendhat Villa in Brno;
• 2003 The Jewish Quarter and St Procopius' Basilica in Trebic.

The most interesting places of interest in Czech Republic:

• Karlstejn (Castle);
• Konopiste (Castle and park);
• Krivoklat (Castle)
• Kutna Hora (Town);
• Melnik (Castle and town);
• Cesky Krumlov (Castle and town);
• Trebon(Town);
• Rozmberk (Castle);
• Telc (Castle and park);
• Cervena Lhota (Castle and park);
• Sychrov (Castle and park);
• Hluboka nad Vltavou (Castle and park);
• Ceske Budejovice (Town);
• Karlovy Vary (Town and spa);
• Marianske Lazne (Town and spa).