Those who erected many centuries ago, the Czech castles, probably could not even imagine that it would ever walk the hundreds of thousands of tourists from around the world.
built castles in the Czech Republic, for practical reasons - to protect troops from different enemy states who dreamed to seize the wealth and land in the country.
Medieval fortress in the next century was reconstructed several times.Castles of the Czech Republic is gradually transformed from military fortresses in the luxury residences of noble families (Lihenshteynov, Schwarzenberg and others), as well as monarchs.However, powerful towers and walls of their growing out of the rocks, still showed the inaccessibility and majesty.
Czech castles to modern tourists - a source of artistic impressions.At the same time it is an opportunity to look at the life of their inhabitants through the ages.Almost all are mentioned in this article castles Czech Republic near Prague.
Prague Castle
Going to the Czech capital, you should definitely visit the most famous castle in the country.This is the central attraction of the city.Prague castle was the main residence of Czech kings (today - presidents).It grew out of another erected in the year 880 on the site of the fortress.Prague Castle has since endured periods of neglect and several devastating raids.However, as time passed, and he revived again, representing the inviolability of the power of the monarch.
Prague Castle today - an architectural museum, which for its walls assembled particles of different epochs of history.The most ancient "artifacts" are part of the wall is erected the church of the Virgin Mary (refer to the 9th century), and the rotunda of St.Vita (dates back to the 10th century), which is "hidden" in the basement of the Cathedral of St.Vitus (14th century), its majestic Gothic child.
Karlstejn
Karlstejn is the second most visited castle of the Czech Republic after Prague Castle.Its square tower and a gray-green roofs look at almost all tourist guides.It attracts a lot of people the spirit of the legendary era, which became famous throughout Europe Czech kingdom.If you choose to see the most beautiful castles of the Czech Republic, do not forget to visit the Karlštejn.
castle was built by Charles IV - the first king of Bohemia, who was able to become the emperor of the Holy Roman Empire.This is a reliable construction of military fortifications for Carl, his magnificent country residence and at the same time the treasury is kept as a work of art, jewelry, royal regalia.
Hluboka
nearly 300 thousand tourists who come each year to see the castle Hluboka nad Vltavou (Czech Republic), will agree that it is one of the most romantic and beautiful in the country.Therefore, if you want your lover felt like a princess from a fairy tale - you should visit this place together (you can even arrange a wedding ceremony here).Czech Republic, castles and fortresses that are striking in their majesty - the perfect place for a romantic trip.
Hluboka was built in the 13th century, but gained its neo-Gothic brilliance later in the second half of the 19th century.This style at the time, in the romantic era, are extremely popular.Hluboka Castle (Czech Republic) is interesting both outside and inside.Inside you'll find a collection of different pieces of art and luxurious historical interiors.
Cesky Krumlov
is a unique historical monument Cesky Krumlov.UNESCO does not accidentally turn it to the list of World Heritage sites.Cesky Krumlov is a historic city.On a rocky outcrop in the center of it stands the castle.The medieval layout of the streets are still preserved.You can see the site of the building belonging to the different architectural periods (from the 14th to 19th century).About 300 thousand tourists every year come here to feel the flavor of the past.
Konopiště
most famous of all the inhabitants of the castle is the Archduke Ferdinand.It is with the murder of this man, the First World War.However, it attracts tourists not only this fact.Konopiště, a Gothic castle, located in a very picturesque place.It is located on a wooded lake.
In addition, you can find the largest collection of historical weapons in Europe, as well as trophies and armor, not counting works of art and collections of majolica.
Sychrov Sychrov was not ever military installations.It was created in the late 17th century, when a long time had forgotten the days of chivalry.Sychrov castle became Manors, made in the French spirit, which is here brought Rohan-Rochefort, its owners.They were assembled here a very interesting collection of paintings, but the main wealth of the castle began miniatures of the 16th century, a collection of antique furniture, magnificent library, museum Dvorak, decorated with carved wood interiors as well as the ghost of "black lady".
Loket
Loket Castle (Czech Republic) is visited by those who want to see the real antiquity.He is one of the best in the country, which is almost completely preserved medieval appearance: powerful towers, small windows, stone walls.Loket stands out among the other castles, palaces, luxuriously decorated, its serious and gloomy views.But this is to be expected from a building, which is the border fortress built not for amusement on the bend of the river inaccessible Ohri.
Romanesque rotunda, referring to the 12th century, considered the oldest of the other buildings that make up the castle Loket (Czech Republic).You will be inside the Museum of Czech porcelain.Products from a famous Karlovy Vary Region.You'll also find a museum of bookbinding and basement exhibition of ancient prison with torture instruments are exposed.
Orlik nad Vltavou
Describing the most beautiful castles in the Czech Republic, it is impossible not to mention the Orlik nad Vltavou.The name "Orlik" is an echo of memory about eagles, once lived in the vicinity of the place.The building is situated on a high rocky promontory, which cuts into the river.Orlik Castle (Czech Republic) resembles itself a nest mountain majestic birds.Now, when the waters of the Vltava River, Orlicke reservoirs, pick up very close to the walls, hiding the peaks surrounding it, we still do not cease to admire the charm of shining white against the sky carved towers of the castle.
Travelers also attracts a motley but very interesting exhibition, which combined historical relics Schwarzenberg, the famous race.It is also curious collection of firearms belonging to the 17-20 centuries, the library, hunting trophies and archaeological collection, which exhibits the times of Troy.
Melnik
This castle is loved by tourists not only for the scenic countryside as well as the mountain Rip, a national shrine.Very curious here is the architecture of the Renaissance, the family Lobkowicz collection and historic interiors.Melnik, moreover, is the center of wine-making in the Czech Republic.This brought vine from Burgundy itself Charles IV, Emperor and started the production of the famous drink with the help of the French.In the cellars of the castle today you can appreciate the wealth of Czech wine.
Lednice
Lednice Castle in the Czech Republic relating to the ownership of Liechtenstein, is an excellent example of the so-called "new Gothic."It was created on the site is here earlier medieval castle.Lednice part of a complex with an area of 200 km2, which belongs to the huge park and the baroque Valtice Palace.
Park, which is called the "Garden of Europe", is a true masterpiece of landscape architecture, designed in landscape style in England.Interesting finds expect someone who decides to walk on it: pavilions, temples, pavilions, ponds, caves and artificial "ruins", the minaret, the aqueduct and more.
Cesky Sternberk
This impregnable Gothic structure rises menacingly above the river Sazava.Sternberg Castle in the Czech Republic is one of the most visited and oldest in the country.It was founded on the site of the ancient fortifications in the 13th century.The castle is a family nest Sternberg - the richest and most famous Czech noble family.
Rooms are richly decorated.Impressive Knight, the largest of the state rooms, decorated with unique chandeliers of crystal belonging to the 18th century.Each of them weighs 300 kg.Located in this room furniture, who served with the 16th-century owners.Carl Brentano's, an Italian artist, performed here painting on the ceiling.
Sternberg Castle in the Czech Republic after the war was nationalized, and only in 1992 returned Zdenek von Sternberg, the last owner, who lives here permanently, and sometimes conducting tours.
These are the main castles of the Czech Republic.I would like to tell you about another interesting places that you can find in this country.It is about Kutna Hora.
Church of bones
The Czech Republic is an unremarkable little town of Kutna Hora.Here, as in other small towns, there is a church, a town hall and a certain area.
He probably would have remained unknown if it had not occurred in the 14th century plague, which killed tens of thousands of people, and if a woodcarver after 5 centuries have not decided to "put in order" the remains of the dead.
bones and skulls decorated ... church.Kutna Hora since that time has become a favorite destination of tourists from around the world, attracted by all the mysterious and gloomy.
history ossuary
Otakar II, king of Bohemia, about the second half of the 13th century, sent to Palestine one abbot.The abbot of the trip abroad has brought a bit of land.He scattered it in the cemetery.Earth, I must say, was unusual.The priest took her on Golgotha - the place where Jesus was crucified Christ in the New Testament.
Since then considered sacred ground in the town of Kutna Hora.Rumor had it that the body is beginning to decompose until the third day after the person buried.Soon his fame in the center of Europe, the Holy Land has spread to other countries.Many famous people from different countries want to be buried in the town of Kutna Hora in the local cemetery.
in Bohemia in the 14th century spread the plague.Thousands of families from all over the land of the dead were taken to a place where there was a piece of the Holy Land.
epidemics and medieval war also contributed to the fact that the cemetery was spreading more and more.It was built in 1400, the Gothic cathedral.His tomb was the storeroom to the bones, which were getting out of their graves.
name of the man who invented the first order all the bone heaps, unfortunately, is not known.It is believed that it was a half-blind monk.It was he who took apart the rubble of skulls and bones, and built the pyramids 6 of them.
400 years emperor ordered this cathedral to close.Then the Schwarzenberg family decided to buy back the church together with the lands around.Since there was no place to sell the remains of the earth, Schwarzenberg decided to hire a "interior designer" to the transformed somehow this area.Frantisek Rinta, master wood, came quite creatively to the job.Now we can see a unique work of art.
interior of the church
Nothing special Church, located in the city, outside is no different.We see several gloomy building surrounded by stone slabs and monuments.However, as is well known, the appearance is often misleading.Things change when you get inside.
in each corner of the building there are small pyramids of bones.Huge beautiful chandelier hanging in the middle.It consists of human bones of all kinds of species.A separate part of the decor is a chandelier in the cathedral.Hundreds of tourists because of her eager to get inside the temple.If you look closely, you will notice that it is attached to the ceiling jaws.It is difficult to imagine, but in the church are the bones of people, which number over 40 thousand.
Castle of the bones in the Czech Republic is the main attraction of Kutna Hora.In addition, you can visit the National Museum is located here, mint, as well as the Cathedral of St. Barnabas, and just a walk through the beautiful and atmospheric streets of the city.
