Record Visits to Czech Castles and Chateaux: 4.3 Million Guests in 2025

In 2025, a total of 4.3 million people visited state-owned castles, chateaux and monuments in the Czech Republic – an increase of six per cent compared with the previous year. Classics such as Lednice and Český Krumlov were particularly popular, as were newly opened attractions and special exhibitions.

State-owned castles, chateaux and other monuments under the administration of the National Heritage Institute (Národní památkový ústav, NPÚ) recorded a total of 4,259,979 visitors last year – a six per cent rise compared with 2024. The main season in 2025 ran from 5 April to 2 November. Newly accessible attractions, traditional tourist destinations, and recurring events such as the August Night of Castles and Chateaux (“Hradozámecká noc”) and Advent at the Castles (“Hradozámecký advent”) proved particularly popular.

The largest visitor flows were once again drawn by a number of traditionally well-attended monuments: the state residences of Lednice, Český Krumlov and Hluboká nad Vltavou, as well as Karlštejn and Bouzov castles.

Foto: Telč | Národní památkový ústav

Special Highlights

The greatest increase in visitor numbers was seen at Trosky Castle, with 30,000 more guests than the previous year. In percentage terms, Zákupy Chateau experienced the highest growth, doubling its visitor numbers. While Trosky received additional attention due to the release of a new computer game adaptation (Kingdom Come Deliverance II), Zákupy attracted visitors with the reopening of the southern part of the imperial economic courtyard, including the Baroque riding hall.

Another crowd-puller was the special exhibition of replicas of the Crown Jewels at Kunštát Chateau, which recorded a 55 per cent increase in visitors compared with the previous year.

Seasonal Highlight

The busiest day of 2025 was Saturday, 23 August. As part of the traditional Hradozámecká noc, the monuments remained open beyond normal hours into the night. On that day, a total of 63,467 paying visitors attended NPÚ-managed sites. Nationwide, a record-breaking 138 monuments took part in the event last year, including properties owned by other organisations. The focus was on Uherčice Chateau, where the newly restored rooms in the west wing were opened to the public for the first time.

Foto: Sychrov | Národní památkový ústav

NPÚ Expands Its Portfolio

The National Heritage Institute manages over 100 sites – from castles and chateaux to monasteries, churches, hospitals, gardens, villas and technical monuments. In 2025, the national cultural monuments “Red Tower of Death” in Ostrov and the so-called Upper Chateau in Rožmberk nad Vltavou came under NPÚ administration. In return, Selsky dvůr at Matouš in Pilsen-Bolevec will transfer to the Open-Air National Museum, an institution of the Ministry of Culture, from January 2026.

Winter Openings Allow Visits Outside the Main Season

Many monuments remain accessible throughout the year: around 20 sites offer special winter tours or selected main sightseeing routes. Information on opening hours and admission prices can be found on the websites of the individual sites, where tickets can also be purchased online.