Borgen Hazmburk i Tjeckien - och slottet Libochoviche

Writer: Helena Bergström

The Hazmburk castle in the Czech Republic is now a ruin, yet it sits mightily on top of a hill in the town of Libochoviche. This town also has a baroque castle from the 17th century. Of course we visited both!

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Hazmburk Castle in the Czech Republic

Hazmburk Castle is a mighty ruin with two large towers - the White Tower and the Black Tower. To best show what the whole ruin looks like from above, we have borrowed a photo from the Czech Tourist Office.

Borgen Hazmburk i Tjeckien — Photo: Czech Tourist Office

Hazmburk Castle is located on a hill in the town of Libochoviche, near Litoměřice in the northern Czech Republic.

Visiting Hazmburk Castle

The visit to Hazmburk Castle was part of a few days' press programme in the Czech Republic, so we had a guide with us. Together we drove to the castle and parked in the nearest car park. Then it was just to start walking!

We were prepared for a rather arduous walk, but it was still quite easy to get up. Of course you walk uphill, but it was not as steep as we expected. Of course, we had water with us and took a little break, and suddenly we were at the top!

Vandring till borgen Hazmburk i Tjeckien

From the top you have a fantastic view to begin with! The surrounding landscape is special. The ground is flat almost everywhere, filled with arable land. In the background you can see a long line of peaked mountains rising into the sky.

To visit the castle itself, you have to pay a fee and then wander around on your own. You can look at the round tower (the black tower) and climb the angular tower (the white tower). The round tower, which is now used for TV aerials, surprisingly has no entrance. In the past, a gangway apparently went to the window in the centre, and this was the way to get into the tower.

As usual, I (Helena, afraid of heights) declined to take the stairs to the roof of the white tower, but Peter went up to check out the view.

Hazmburk Castle - with a 13th century history

Founded in the second half of the 13th century, Hazmburk Castle was sold in 1335 to Zbyněk Zajíc of Valdek, who renamed the castle from Klapý to Hazmburk, linking the name to the hares in his coat of arms.

The castle had its heyday in the 15th century, when it was considered one of the most impregnable forts of the time. In the end, it was time that caused the castle to deteriorate, and by the end of the 16th century it was abandoned to become a ruin. A few hundred years later, in the 19th century, the romantic castle became a popular subject for artists.

Lunch and ice cream in Libochoviche

Feeling satisfied with the visit to Hazmburk Castle, we took the motorhome to the centre of the town of Libochoviche, for lunch and an ice cream. A nice break before it was time for the next castle! In the centre is the comparatively newer castle Libochoviche.

Libochoviche Castle

Libochoviche Castle was built at the end of the 17th century and is considered one of Bohemia's most important early Baroque buildings.

There was originally a Gothic fortress on the site and then, in the 16th century, a Renaissance castle was built. After this was damaged by fire, the current baroque castle was built between 1682 and 1690.

The castle park at Libochoviche Castle

In 1685, an ornamental garden was created at the castle, including a greenhouse. It is still a beautifully maintained garden today.

There is also a lush and beautiful English park where you can stroll around.

Guided tour of the Libochoviche castle

To see the interior of Libochoviche Castle, you can join a guided tour. The tours are usually given in Czech, and for non-Czech speakers there is a written description of the rooms in English.

The castle is stunningly beautiful and you will see a wide range of rooms, decorated in different historical styles.

What fascinated us most was hearing about the last owner of the castle, Joseph Heberstein, and his adventurous travels in Africa and Asia. The entire castle is filled with precious Asian porcelain and hunting trophies from exotic lands. What different times!

Where can you camp with a motorhome or caravan?

Where can you camp with a motorhome or caravan? There are, as almost always in the Czech Republic, several places to choose from. This time we were at the modern caravan park in Velemín. Another time we stayed at Autokemp Slavoj in Litoměřice.

Video from Hazmburk Castle

More to see and do in the neighbourhood

From Hazmburk Castle it is very close to Dvur Perlová Voda - a lovely spa with a really good restaurant. It is also close to the beautiful town of Litoměřice. We can also recommend visits to Kokorin Castle or the town of Děčín, from where you can make many adventures in nature.

READ MORE: Spa in the Czech Republic - visit to Dvur Perlova Voda
READ MORE: Litomerice in the Czech Republic - castles and camping with Swedes
READ MORE: Kokorin Castle in the Czech Republic - plus nature experiences

Had you heard of Hazmburk Castle?

Had you heard of Hazmburk Castle before? What do you like best - old castle ruins or newer baroque castles?

Facts about Hazmburk Castle in the Czech Republic

Address: Purkrabská 2, Libochovice
County: Ústí nad Labem
Region: Bohemia (Bohemia)
Country: Czech Republic
Read more: You can find more information at Castle website.

Services and practical information

Opening hours: The castle is usually open from Tuesday to Sunday. During the winter months (November - February) the castle is closed.
Price: Adults pay 130 CZK (approximately 60 crowns) per person. Pensioners and young people aged 18-24 pay 100 CZK (approx. 45 crowns). Children 6-17 years old pay 50 CZK (about 22 crowns) (2022).
Service: There is a small kiosk on site where you can buy drinks and snacks.

Facts about Libochoviche Castle

Address: Nám. 5. května 1, Libochovice
County: Ústí nad Labem
Region: Bohemia (Bohemia)
Country: Czech Republic
Read more: You can find more information at the castle's website.

Services and practical information

Opening hours: The castle is open between March and October, some days a week. See the castle's website for exact times.
Price: Adults pay 170 CZK (about 75 crowns) per person. Pensioners and young people aged 17-24 pay 140 CZK (approx. 60 crowns). Children 6-17 years old pay 100 CZK (about 45 crowns).

6 Comments

Add yours →

4000mil says:

I definitely prefer real decorated castles to ruins. Just more to see. But the ruins can be pretty cool to see from a distance. The more you travel around Europe, the more you realise that there really is an old castle on every hill!

09 July 2022 - 8:31

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  I understand exactly what you mean! We often think so too, even if some ruins can stand out as extra special and cool to visit 🙂 And really agree, oh how many hills with castles there are!
  
  09 July 2022 - 8:38
  
Nils-Åke Hansson says:

The favourite place in Libochoviche, hope it tasted good. The castle of Libochoviche was magnificent.

09 July 2022 - 9:29

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Yes, but really! The ice cream was good and apparently a very popular place there 🙂 .
  
  09 July 2022 - 19:59
  
BP says:

It was a real culture clash between the castle ruins and the castle. The ruin is more exciting but harder to reach. The castle is interesting as it is absolutely not similar to the castles we have in Sweden, neither the exterior nor the interior - I think so.

09 July 2022 - 20:30

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Yes, really two different places! We like contrasts and variety, so we liked this! 🙂
  
  02 August 2022 - 11:49

Hazmburk Castle in the Czech Republic - and Libochoviche Castle

Writer: Helena Bergström

Hazmburk Castle in the Czech Republic

Visiting Hazmburk Castle

Hazmburk Castle - with a 13th century history

Lunch and ice cream in Libochoviche

Libochoviche Castle

The castle park at Libochoviche Castle

Guided tour of the Libochoviche castle

Where can you camp with a motorhome or caravan?

Video from Hazmburk Castle

More to see and do in the neighbourhood

Had you heard of Hazmburk Castle?

Facts about Hazmburk Castle in the Czech Republic

Services and practical information

Facts about Libochoviche Castle

Services and practical information

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6 Comments

4000mil says:

Helena says:

Nils-Åke Hansson says:

Helena says:

BP says:

Helena says:

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