The town of Hluboká nad Vltavou is situated closely to České Budějovice in the Czech Republic and is worth the day trip if for nothing other than the castle.
Hluboká Castle
Hluboká Castle is like a fairytale. One of the most visited and famous castles in the Czech Republic it was inspired by England’s Windsor Castle.
The castle itself was originally built as a military fortress in 1285, which I feel is a common theme in the Czech Republic. Switching hands multiple times, the castle’s last Czech owners were the Malovec family, which was confiscated and sold in 1622 to a Spanish General.
Finally, in 1661 it became the property of the Schwarzenbergs who completely reconstructed the castle in the 18th century. When finished it became something completely different than the other castle’s seen throughout the country.
Walking up to the castle you cannot help but feel like you are about to meet Cinderella and her prince. The perfectly manicured garden in the front opens up to the large yawning mouth of the central archway.
Take a tour
The interior is no less spectacular. There is a large inviting courtyard as you enter through the main entrance. Take a tour to gain a deeper understanding of the history surrounding the area and castle. It also gives you the opportunity to explore the various rooms, designed to mimic the Elizabethan era, with mahogany and gold.
Check out the castle’s website to plan your visit.
Check out the nearby carp ponds
Once you have gotten your fill of this immaculate building head over to the carp ponds. If you are lucky there will be a festival going on, where locals harvest the ponds while onlookers drink fresh beer and eat from the various food stands.
Carp is an important source of protein in the Czech Republic. As bottom feeding vegetarians, carp are easy to raise and therefore can be raised in significant quantity. The Czechs have been raising carp for a long time and it is an important part of their heritage.
Visit the zoo
Near the carp ponds is an adorable little zoo. I really enjoyed walking around this zoo. Much smaller than the Prague Zoo it has the ever-fun kookaburra, which you know I had that silly little kids’ song stuck in my head for the rest of the day.
The Czechs do a good job with their zoos and animal care.
The entire area can be explored in one day, as the main focal point, really, is the castle. But it is still surrounded by nature, as in much of South Bohemia, and you are given the opportunity to travel at a slower pace. As in all areas in the Czech Republic, it is so steeped in history that no matter where you turn you will find a remnant of the past.
For more day trips in South Bohemia check out my posts on České Budějovice and Český Krumlov.
