Rosenberg Castle. Tour of the Czech Rožmberk Castle

Neither Czechs nor Europeans will be surprised by castles. However, Rožmberk nad Vltavou (Czech Rožmberk nad Vltavou, former German Rosenberg an der Moldau) in the town of the same name in the south of the Czech Republic is special. What brought him fame was... a ghost. And although ghosts are a “mandatory attribute” of every second or third European castle, it seems that it really exists in Rožmberk nad Vltavou. This is what hundreds of people who have seen the White Lady say.

From the history of the castle with the White Lady

Today, travelers see a white Gothic castle with towers on a hill above the city - austere, very sparse in decoration, impregnable against the backdrop of friendly village houses. The walls shining in the sun are surrounded by lush greenery, the calm Vltava flows below, and behind the castle are the spurs of the Šumava Mountains.

The castle is very old. Rožmberk nad Vltavou first appears in chronicles in 1250 as the domain of Vok I of Rožmberk. It is referred to by the German name Rosenberg, or "rose mountain". The castle received such a poetic name in accordance with the coat of arms of the owners of the Rozmberks (German Rosenbergs) - one of the oldest aristocratic knightly families in the Czech Republic. The coat of arms of the Knights of Rosenberg was decorated with a red five-petalled rose framed in silver. The men of the clan became famous as fearless warriors and had almost unlimited power, and the Rožmberk possessions were “a state within a state” - so strong and rich was the family at that time, the Vitkovich branch, descended from King Vitek III the Younger.

But a family curse hung over the Rosenbergs. In the 16th century - early 17th century, its last representatives, Vilém and Peter, died. The coat of arms of the glorious knights is turned over - their line has ceased.

Even during the time of the Rosenbergs, the castle was rebuilt more than once. At first it had two parts - upper and lower, but was damaged by fire - only the lower castle and the tower from the upper one remained. During the time of Peter Vock von Rosenberg, the building was transformed in the style of the Italian Renaissance.

In 1620, during the Thirty Years' War, the castle was captured by the Austrian army, and then the Emperor of Austria gave it to a general who especially distinguished himself in battle. The new owner of the Pink Mountain is Carl Bunaventura Bucoy.

Until 1945, the Bukoy family remained the owners of Rožmberk nad Vltavou. One of the owners, Jiri Jan Jindrich Bukoy, who owned the castle from 1814 to 1883, turned the old family nest of the knights into an unofficial museum, collecting many works of art in it.

The White Lady and other secrets and promises of the castle

The price of love and life is dowry

The White Lady glorified not only Rožmberk nad Vltavou, but also the Czech Republic, becoming one of the especially mentioned ghosts... So many people saw her, so unexpectedly and so naturally, that they really believed in the existence of some entity in the castle.

Historical research, but mainly local legends, helped establish the name of the inhabitant, who never found peace.

... A long time ago, so long ago that there is no evidence left - only mysterious portraits and legends, Baron Rozmberk lived in the castle, who gained fame as a stingy rich man. A monk served as an assistant to the baron - a personal adviser and clerk. Unrestricted, Rožmberk's greed grew until it became a disease. The moment came when the baron coveted the possessions of the monk’s relatives. The latter refused to help Rozmberk, for which he was executed. Before his death, the monk cursed Rožmberk and his entire family...

Perhaps it was the monk’s curse that made the Rotenbergs’ red rose wither and die. But before its complete demise it brought more troubles. Including those who were completely innocent, among them the daughters of Baron Perkhte.

Rozmberk decided to marry Perkhta, and an extremely profitable match was found - Count Liechtenstein. The wedding ended, the newlyweds left for the groom's estate. And then the baron was overcome by greed, which by that time had completely taken possession of him. Rožmberk refused to give the dowry promised for his daughter - Perkhta returned to her father’s house disgraced and abandoned...

Many years passed in loneliness and melancholy, the hair of the once beautiful Perkhta turned white - and suddenly Liechtenstein, who had rejected her, returned. What happened to the count is unknown, but he began to ask for forgiveness and return to him. Perkhta refused - not only love, but also joy died in her forever.

Enraged Liechtenstein also cursed the Rožmberk family and Perchta. The unfortunate woman lived in suffering to a ripe old age, but did not find peace even with death - she remained forever in the castle...

Since then, the hostess of Rozmberka nad Vltavou sometimes appears before guests. If you happen to see the unfortunate Perkhta, pay attention to the sleeves of her dress: if they are white - for a wedding celebration or marriage proposal; red - to fire; black - to misfortune and even death...

In the "Knight's Hall", among the portraits of the formidable warlike ancestors of Perchta von Rosenberg, find her image. The portrait of a girl attracts not only with its beauty, but also with another mystery. A certain message is written on it in secret writing, and legend says that whoever deciphers the inscription will become fabulously rich. So far, all attempts have been in vain, so every guest of Rožmberk nad Vltavou still has a chance.

Bronze elephant of happiness

Another promise of the castle to its guests is the promise of happiness. A bronze elephant will give it to you, all you have to do is stroke the figurine on its trunk. But first the elephant must be found. That’s why tourists wander through the halls and galleries of Rožmberk nad Vltavou - looking for an elephant and... happiness.

What else can you see in the castle

The very atmosphere of the knight's castle is extraordinary. It is created by old walls that once saw the most influential people in the state and Europe, and halls filled with ancient interior items, decorated with old paintings. In the Gallery there are portraits of the leaders of the Crusades, in the Arsenal there is a collection of armor and weapons of the Crusaders.

An exhibition of interiors has opened on the second floor of the castle, telling about the life of the aristocratic Bukoy family in the 19th century. The dining room, living room, and games room have been restored and furnished for viewing.

Less beautiful, but no less exciting are the exhibits of the Museum of Torture, located in the castle, in its courtyard. Before the eyes of travelers is an extensive collection of instruments, the purpose of which was to find out the truth or what the formidable ruler wanted to hear. You can touch the instruments, or you can try yourself in the role of an executioner or a victim...

However, there are more fun games in the castle. The workers of the castle museum will play a ghost hunt with you, presenting a truly exciting show. The actors will present touching or scary pictures from the life of the owners and inhabitants of Rožmberk nad Vltavou, guiding visitors through the bedrooms, halls and cellars of the castle. But the performance is performed only in the summer, at 21.00, 22.00, 23.00 at night.

How to get to the castle

Rožmberk nad Vltavou is located 200 km from the Czech capital. If you go to the castle from the bus station, the journey will take 4 hours and will require a transfer in Ceske Budejovice.

It is faster to get to the castle by car. From České Budejovice you need to follow the E55 highway (3) in the direction of Plana, Velesin, then at 37 kilometers turn onto highway 163. And after another 7 kilometers turn right onto highway 160. The town of Rožmberka nad Vltavou remains 4 kilometers away.

In the city itself, you need to leave your car in the parking lot, and get to the castle by following the signs. You can visit Rožmberk nad Vltavou all year round.

Rozmberk Castle, Czech Republic March 28th, 2014

Rožmberk Castle is located in Southern Bohemia a few kilometers from Austria in the town of Rožmberk nad Vltavou, where 369 people live.
Perhaps I liked this castle the most, although it is not striking in its appearance and does not have such a mysterious park as.
What's so special about it? Let's watch.

The first mention of this Czech castle, which at that time bore the German name Rosenberg (“rose mountain”), dates back to 1250, during the reign of the Czech king Wenceslas I. Apparently, the fortress served to control the important trade route from the Czech Republic to Austria, since is on the way from Cesky Krumlov to Linz.

The castle complex consisted of two structures: the lower and upper fortresses. However, after the fire of 1522, all that remained of the buildings of the upper fortress was the Jacobinka Tower - a separate watchtower. And in the photo you can see both the tower and the fact that the two parts of the castle differ from each other.
The decoration of the Lower Fortress during the reconstruction of 1556 was made in the Renaissance style in the spirit of Italy. However, already in the 17th century, the Rožmberk dynasty again modernized the castle, giving it a romantic Gothic appearance. In its image, Rožmberk Castle is a small copy of Krumlov Castle, which was also at one time the property of this rich family.

The Vltava is a river that originates in the south of the Czech Republic and which we see in Prague

While we were walking up to the castle, it started to snow. These places are located in the Sumava Mountains, so it snowed a lot there. During one of the nights that we were in South Bohemia, there was probably a meter of snow!

Here is the castle itself. It is here that the most famous Czech ghost lives - the White Lady (White Lady).
In 1429, Ulrich Rozmberk, the then owner of the castle, gave birth to a daughter, who was named Perchta. The girl's father gave her away when she was 20 years old and forced her into marriage. Her husband was the nobleman Jan Lichtenstein, who was counting on the Rozmberks' fortune. And the bride’s father hoped for Ian’s political connections. But their plans were not destined to come true. The husband did not love the unfortunate Perkhta and treated her extremely poorly. And his mother and sisters loved to make fun of the girl. When Jan Liechtenstein died in 1476, he asked Perchta for forgiveness. But she refused him. And then he exclaimed: “So be damned!” When 3 years had passed, Perkhta died, but could not leave the earth. Apparently, the words of the curse worked. She wanders around the ancestral castle of Rožmberk in a white robe with a rattling bunch of keys. That is why she was called the “White Lady”.
The white lady does not harm anyone, she is a good ghost. According to legends, if she changes her clothes, something will happen soon. One day she appeared in a red robe, and after some time a major fire broke out in the castle.

They say that night excursions are also organized here - this is a whole show, the main participants of which are the guides themselves, dressed in costumes of heroes of popular Czech legends. During a fascinating journey into the past, you can visit Perkhta’s bedroom, explore the castle’s state rooms, basements, torture room and witness heartbreaking family dramas played out by actors. The excursion is available only in summer on Saturdays and Sundays and three times per evening (excursions start at 21.00, 22.00, 23.00).

There is also a portrait of the White Lady somewhere in the castle. And on the portrait there is an inscription made using a mysterious font with the comment: “Read what is written here and you will become the owner of fabulous wealth.” Many cryptographers have tried to unravel the mystery of the inscription, but so far to no avail.

I found the following information about this elephant:
“They say that if you stroke his trunk, then peace, love and tranquility will come to the family. Well, if you climb on his back...” Then fantasize yourself =)
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In the castle you can climb the tower and explore the surrounding area. In general, I think that if there is an opportunity to climb somewhere, then you should always do it. And if there is no opportunity, you need to look for it =)
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The castle courtyard is visible (where the elephant stands):
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About the castle

Rosenberg Castle is located near the town of Rožmberk nad Vltavou in Southern Bohemia. Initially, the fortress was the residence of the family of Czech aristocrats - the Rosenbergs. The castle was founded at the beginning of the thirteenth century. The first documentary mention of the castle dates back to 1253. This document is signed "Vok von Rosenberg".

Rosenberg nad Valta is one of the most beautiful castles in the Czech Republic. The fortress itself is located on one of the heights of the Sumava Mountains, surrounded on all sides by centuries-old coniferous forests. The forest is surrounded by the mirror waters of the Vltava River.

The Gothic castle fortifications were rebuilt only twice in the entire history of Rosenberg: in the Renaissance and in the 19th century, when the fashion for Tudor architecture reigned. The last owners of Rosenberg were the Bucquois, Czech aristocrats of French origin. They turned the castle into a museum of bohemian history open to the public. The main palace is a unique combination of several architectural eras. It houses an amazingly beautiful hall, in the Renaissance style, with antique wall decorations and the famous “musical niche”. The palace houses a truly unique collection of Baroque paintings and furniture. The paintings contained in the gallery date back to different centuries, starting with the Renaissance. And in the arsenal you can find armor, weapons and emblems.

History of the castle

Rosenberg Castle was built at the beginning of the 13th century. Its founder was Vok from Prcice, a member of the powerful Vitkovic family. Subsequently, Vok from Prichtse began to call himself Vok from Rosenberg.

Very soon after its founding, the castle was surrounded by powerful fortifications. It immediately became the economic and administrative center of the Vitkovich family's possessions. Part of these possessions was soon received by the Cistercian monastery in Upper Brod. In 1302, the younger Krymlov branch of the Vitkovich dynasty was interrupted. Their capital, Cesky Krumlov, was inherited by Vok and soon after moved his residence there.

Soon Aldrich II took possession of Rosenberg Castle, but in 1420 he was forced to mortgage the castle to an Austrian family, since Aldrich II urgently needed money to support his army in the war with the Hussites. It is worth noting that it was Aldrich II who was the father of the famous “White Lady”. Soon the castle was bought back, but was immediately mortgaged to the Lobkowitz family again. The second loan was also paid off over time.

In 1600, according to the will of Peter Vok Rosenberg, the castle and surrounding properties were transferred to his nephew, Johan Zrinski. It was Zrinski who rebuilt the castle in the Renaissance style. Johan soon died and the fortress was inherited by the Švamberks, relatives of the Rosenbergs. This happened in 1612. However, they soon lost both the castle and the surrounding possessions. They were confiscated and handed over to the commander of the imperial army, Count Buquois, Charles Bonaventure after the Battle of the White Mountain. Bucquoy's main residence was in Novi Grad, but he still kept Rosenberg Castle with him. Buquoy owned the fortress until 1945. After the end of the Second World War, during the nationalization of real estate, the castle was confiscated.

The White Lady from Rosenberg Castle

Throughout its history, the castle was surrounded by numerous wars. Many of the owners of Rosenberg became prototypes for Czech national mythological images. One of the most popular such images is the White Lady.

According to history, the owner of Rosenberg Castle had a beautiful daughter named Berchta. By the way, Baron Rosenberg himself took part in various wars of conquest and was, at his core, a scoundrel. The baron was served by a monk who signed papers giving the baron the right to own the lands that he captured. One day, the baron seized the land on which the monk’s relatives lived and he refused to sign the papers, for which he was immediately executed. Before his death, the monk cursed the Rosenberg family, dooming it to extinction in each generation.

Soon the baron gave his daughter, Berchta, in marriage to the respected Count of Liechtenstein. At the same time, he was stingy and did not give his daughter a dowry. The Count was angry at such an insult to him and refused to marry Berchta. She had to return to her parents' house.

Years passed, but nothing changed and the couple did not even think about living together. When, almost dying, the Count came to Brechta with a plea for forgiveness, she refused him. The Count died without receiving forgiveness and cursing Brechta's soul before his death.

According to legend, since then the White Lady, without knowing peace, has been wandering through the castles of the Czech Republic. The same legend tells that the constant attribute of a ghost is white gloves. That's why they call her the White Lady.

In one of the halls of the Rosenberg Palace hangs a portrait of the White Lady. A signature is attached to the painting, according to which anyone who reads what is written in a secret font right there on the painting will receive fabulous wealth. The best cryptographers on the planet are still racking their brains over the mysterious hieroglyphs, but their mystery still remains unsolved.

Bronze elephant

Another tangible cultural icon of Rosenberg Castle is the bronze elephant. Popular belief says that someone who strokes an elephant's trunk will certainly find peace and harmony in the family. The elephant has general popularity and is loved by all visitors to the castle.

Torture Museum

In the courtyard of the castle there is a torture museum. When entering this museum, a person experiences very special feelings. Fans of Quentin Tarantino's work may think that Hostel was filmed here, as many of the torture objects are remarkably similar to the film's sets. Museum visitors do not have to limit themselves to a regular tour. If desired, everyone can “try for themselves” the numerous and extravagant exhibits of the museum.

Tourist information

Rosenberg Castle is open from May to September on all days except Mondays. In April and October, Rosenberg is open only on weekends.

In the very south of the Czech Republic, near the Austrian border, there is one of the most mysterious Czech castles - Rožmberk nad Vltavou.

Surrounded by dense forests, this Gothic castle blends so organically into the surrounding landscape that it seems to be a natural continuation of the spurs of the Šumava Mountains that dominate it. There are many legends associated with this Gothic Czech castle, the most famous of which I present here. Well, if you want to know the rest and admire the perfect Gothic appearance of Rožmberk Castle - come yourself, you definitely won’t be disappointed!

The first mention of this Czech castle, founded by the Vitkovic family on the banks of the Vltava River, on the trade route from Cesky Krumlov to Austrian Linz and which at that time bore the German name Rosenberg (“rose mountain”), dates back to 1250, during the reign of the Czech king Wenceslas I. The castle is mentioned as a predicate of Vok I from Rožmberk.

The town of Rožmberk was founded next to the castle in 1262 by Vok from Rožmberk. Even earlier, however, there was a village near the lower ford of the Vltava on the way from Netolice to Linz. Soon it was merged with the newly founded town.

Rožmberk Castle was built in the first half of the 13th century by Vitek of Prcice, a member of the powerful Vitkovic family, who later called himself Vok of Rožmberk after the name of the castle. In a short time, the castle was equipped with powerful fortifications. It became the administrative and economic center of family holdings, part of which Vok gave to the founded Cistercian monastery in Upper Brod. In 1302, when the younger, Krumlov, branch of the Vitkovićs was interrupted, the Rosenbergs inherited Cesky Krumlov and moved their residence there.

After the lords of Rožmberk inherited the Krumlov lordship in 1302, they moved their residence to Krumlov Castle, continuing to retain Rožmberk. After the death of the last Rožmberk ruler, Petr Vok from Rožmberk, in 1611, Rožmberk passed into the possession of his nephew Jan Zrinski, and then into the Švamberk family.

Apparently, this fortress served to control an important trade route from the Czech Republic to the rich Upper Danube lands of Austria.

In 1420 Oldřich II of Rožmberk (1403–1462) was forced to mortgage the castle to the Wallsee family of Austria to finance his army in the war against the Hussites. Oldřich was the father of Pest ("White Lady"). The first mortgage was paid, but in 1465 the castle was again mortgaged to the Lobkowitz family. This deposit was also paid.

In 1600, Petar Vok from Rozmberk bequeathed the castle and his possessions to his nephew John Zrini (1565-1612), who renovated it in the spirit of the Renaissance. When he died in 1612, the property was inherited by the Rožmberks' relatives, the Švamberks.

In the 16th century, the Gothic style of the castle was partially replaced by the Renaissance, until in 1619, during the Thirty Years' War, it was captured by the troops of the Austrian Emperor under the command of General Karl Bunaventure Buqua.

The general liked Rožmberk Castle so much that he begged it from the emperor as a reward for the successful conduct of hostilities. In 1620, the Rožmberk lordship was confiscated from the Švamberk family for their participation in the Revolt of the Czech Estates and transferred to the ownership of Karl Buqua

Charles Bonaventure von Buquoy und Gratzen, Charles Bonaventure de Longval, Comte de Buquoy - Spanish and imperial military leader, field marshal (22 August 1618) and lieutenant general (1619).

Buquois, whose main residence was in Novi Grad, owned the castle until 1945, when it was nationalized after the end of World War II.

The most noticeable mark in the history of the castle was left by Jiri Jan Jindřich Buqua (1814-1883), a famous collector. Under him, the castle was reconstructed in the neo-Gothic style that we see today. He also collected impressive collections of works of art and turned the Czech castle of Rožmberk into a museum.

The castle was opened to visitors in the mid-19th century as one of the first museums in Bohemia. The castle's collection of paintings includes paintings by Czech and European painters of the late Renaissance and Baroque era, such as Bartholomeus Spranger, Karel Skreta, Johann Kupetsky and Norbert Grund.

LEGENDS AND TRADES

White lady

Perhaps the most famous ghost of Czech castles is the White Lady (or the Lady in White, as she is also called). This ghost lives in the Czech castle of Rožmberk nad Vltavou. Once upon a time, in time immemorial, Baron Rožmberk lived in this Czech castle. He was a cunning and greedy man, who did not shy away from any means in order to replenish his already considerable fortune.

Baron Rožmberk's main assistant was a monk who compiled all the documents for his master and thereby helped him seize more and more lands and valuables. But one day the baron decided to seize another tasty morsel by unjust means - a plot of land. But the monk’s relatives lived on this land, and he refused to draw up documents. For this, Baron Rozmberk executed the monk. Dying, he cursed the baron himself and all his descendants.

Without hesitation, the young husband sent his wife back to her father. And so the unfortunate Perkhta lived her whole life in her father’s castle Rožmberk, cursing her ill-fated fate. And already in old age, many years later, the husband who had rejected her came to her to ask for forgiveness, but Perkhta refused him. And then Count Liechtenstein once again cursed the Rožmberk family.

Apparently, these curses had some power, because Perchta remained to live in this Czech castle, now in the form of the ghost of the White Lady, named after the color of her dress. You can see her quite often. They say that the sleeves of the White Lady's dress have the ability to change color - if the sleeves are white, then the one who saw the ghost will have a wedding. Red sleeves mean there will be a fire, but if they are black, big trouble awaits.

There is also a portrait of the White Lady in the Czech castle of Rožmberk nad Vltavou. And on the portrait there is an inscription made using a mysterious font with the comment: “Read what is written here and you will become the owner of fabulous wealth.” Many cryptographers have tried to unravel the mystery of the inscription, but so far to no avail.

Bronze elephant

Somewhere in the labyrinth of rooms and corridors of the Czech castle Rožmberk nad Vltavou, there is a statue of a bronze elephant. They say that if you stroke his trunk, peace, love and tranquility will come to the family. Well, if you climb on your back...

So, if you meet tourists wandering along the corridors of the Gothic castle of Rožmberk nad Vltavou, know that they are looking for a bronze elephant.

After admiring the unforgettable grandeur of the white stone walls of this Czech castle, having a good walk around, don’t forget about the interesting things that are inside.

In addition to the White Lady and the bronze elephant, within the walls of the Czech castle of Rozmberk nad Vltavou there are wonderful collections of porcelain, weapons, paintings and other art objects, collected by one of the last owners of the castle, Jiri Jan Jindřich Bukoy, in the 19th century. In the courtyard of the Rožmberk nad Vltavou castle there is a Museum of Torture, one of the most original in the Czech Republic - anyone can try themselves both as an executioner and as a victim.

During a fascinating journey into the past, you can visit Perkhta’s bedroom, explore the castle’s state rooms, basements, torture room and witness heartbreaking family dramas played out by actors. Unfortunately, this excursion is only available in the summer on Saturdays and Sundays and three times a night (excursions start at 21.00, 22.00, 23.00). By the way, in addition to Rozmberk nad Vltavou, the White Lady also appears in Cesky Krumlov, Jindrichov Hradec, Telč and Trebon.

In 1420 Oldřich II of Rožmberk (1403-1462) was forced to mortgage the castle to the Wallsee family of Austria to finance his army in the war against the Hussites. Oldřich was the father of Pest ("White Lady"). The first mortgage was paid, but in 1465 the castle was again mortgaged to the Lobkowitz family. This deposit was also paid.

In 1600, Petar Vok from Rožmberk bequeathed the castle and his possessions to his nephew John Zrini (1565-1612), who renovated it in the spirit of the Renaissance. When he died in 1612, the property was inherited by the Rožmberks' relatives, the Švamberks. However, they soon lost the castle along with all its possessions, which were confiscated after the Battle of Belogorsk and transferred to the commander of the imperial army, Count Buqua. Buquois, whose main residence was in Novi Grad, owned the castle until 1945, when it was nationalized after the end of World War II.

The castle was opened to visitors in the mid-19th century as one of the first museums in Bohemia.

Legends and traditions

White lady

And the baron had his only daughter, Perkhta, completely obedient to his will, whom he tried to marry off as profitably as possible. Finally, a suitable party was found in the person of Count Liechtenstein. They played a wedding, the newlyweds went to the groom's palace. But the greedy baron refused to give the promised dowry. Without hesitation, the young husband sent his wife back to her father. And so the unfortunate Perkhta lived her whole life in her father’s castle Rožmberk, cursing her ill-fated fate. And already in old age, many years later, the husband who had rejected her came to her to ask for forgiveness, but Perkhta refused him. And then Count Liechtenstein once again cursed the Rožmberk family.

Bronze elephant

So, if you meet tourists wandering along the corridors of the Gothic castle of Rožmberk nad Vltavou, know that they are looking for a bronze elephant.

Excursions and attractions

After admiring the unforgettable grandeur of the white stone walls of this Czech castle, having a good walk around, don’t forget about the interesting things that are inside. In addition to the White Lady and the bronze elephant, within the walls of Rožmberk Castle there are wonderful collections of porcelain, weapons, paintings and other art objects, collected by one of the last owners of the castle, Jiri Jan Jindřich Bukoy, in the 19th century. In the courtyard of the castle there is a Museum of Torture, one of the most original in the Czech Republic - anyone can try themselves both as an executioner and as a victim.

The public museum inside the castle is divided into two parts. One is dedicated to the founders of the castle Rožmberk, the other to the subsequent owners, the Counts of Bucquois. Visitors to the castle are reminded of the time of Rožmberk by the decoration of the facades, made in the Renaissance style, and the beautiful picturesque decorations of the interiors. Buquoy's heritage is represented by interiors designed in the romantic neo-Gothic style. This includes an entrance hall with a richly decorated wooden staircase, a gallery of the Crusaders, with portraits and coats of arms of knights presented in it, and an armory with a collection of weapons and armor from various periods of history. The samples of antique furniture housed there were specially made for the museum by experienced carpenters.

The castle's collection of paintings includes works by famous Czech artists Karel Skreta, Jan Kupecký and Norbert Grund, as well as portraits of historical figures. Among them, special attention is drawn to the portrait of the daughter of the famous historical figure from the Rožmberk family, Oldřich II, Perchta Rožmberk, who is associated with the mysterious “White Lady” (the ghost of a girl appearing in the Rožmberk family castles).

200 steps lead to the highest point of the castle, to the top of the English Tower. From its height, magnificent romantic landscapes open up, the Vltava River and the wooded hills stretching along its banks.

For ghost hunters and simply lovers of the exotic, there is a very interesting excursion conducted by the Ghost Hunters Club in the Czech Rožmberk Castle. For a symbolic 120 CZK you will be given a real night excursion to the ancestral castle of Perchty. Even if the ghost does not make itself felt, the excursion will not leave you indifferent - it is a whole show, the main participants of which are the guides themselves, dressed in costumes of heroes of popular Czech legends. During a fascinating journey into the past, you can visit Perkhta’s bedroom, explore the castle’s state rooms, basements, torture room and witness heartbreaking family dramas played out by actors. Unfortunately, this excursion is only available in the summer on Saturdays and Sundays and three times a night (excursions start at 21.00, 22.00, 23.00). By the way, in addition to Rožmberk nad Vltavou, the White Lady also appears in Cesky Krumlov, Jindrichov Hradec, Telč and Trebon.

Opening hours

From October to April from 11.00 to 13.00, on Saturday, Sunday and holidays from 11.00 to 15.00.
in May and September opening hours are from 9.00 to 15.30, in June from 9.00 to 16.30
in July-August from 9.00 to 17.00
Closed on Monday.

Price

Entrance fees to the tower are 40 CZK for everyone, to the castle from 60 CZK for children and students, 70 CZK for pensioners and up to 100 CZK for adults, depending on the excursion route. If you buy a ticket for two excursions at once, discounts apply. For children, the full program will cost 110 CZK, for pensioners – 130 CZK, and for adults 170 CZK.

How to get there

Address: Hrad Rožmberk 382 18 Rožmberk nad Vltavou (gps:48.656111,14.365556)

By car

This is easy to do by car. You need to leave Prague on highway number E49, going in a south-easterly direction. After the town of Protivin, keep to road 122, then 160. After the town of Český Krumlov, from which there will be 25 km to Rožmberk, keep to road number 160.

By bus

By bus from Prague Na Knizeci station there are buses number 133109 to Český Krumlov – at 7.00, 11.00, 13.00 and 15.00. Travel time is 2 hours 55 minutes. There you need to change trains to Rožmberk. Bus number 330065 departs at 11.00, 14.30, 16.35 and 19.00. This section of the journey takes only 40 minutes. The price of the trip will be about 8 euros.

By train

The railway station is located 4 km from the town, so getting there by train is not very convenient, but if such a desire arises, trains leave at 7.16, 9.16 and 11.16 from Prague Hlavní Nádraží station.