Vrchlabí Castle

Vrchlabí Castle sits right in the heart of Vrchlabí, the town widely seen as the gateway to the Krkonoše (Giant) Mountains. It's an unassuming Renaissance building that today doubles as the town hall, yet its roots go back to the 16th century, when it was among the very first buildings of its kind in Bohemia.

How do you get there?

Vrchlabí lies on the main route into the Krkonoše National Park, making it a natural stopover for anyone heading toward Špindlerův Mlýn or Pec pod Sněžkou. The castle stands right on the town square, just a few minutes' walk from both the bus and train stations, so there's no need to plan a special drive — leave the car in one of the central car parks and cover the rest on foot. It works well as a first stop right after arriving, before continuing up into the mountains.

What's there to see?

The building standing today was constructed between 1533 and 1546 at the initiative of Kryštof Gendorf, who then owned the Vrchlabí estate. It was raised in the manner of an Italian "castello" — a compact stronghold ringed by a moat roughly twelve meters wide, crossed by three separate bridges. Tradition credits the design to the Italian builder Carlo Valmadi, which makes this one of the earliest examples of that architectural style anywhere in the Czech lands.

The castle's history hasn't been trouble-free: a fire in 1575 damaged the building, and only makeshift repairs followed. Over time the moat was filled in and a sprawling park was laid out around the property — today it works almost like a miniature echo of the surrounding mountain landscape. Between 1887 and 1891 the Czernin-Morzin family added a castle chapel, which still stands as part of the grounds.

Inside, the entrance hall preserves original Renaissance portals and inlaid doors — worth a close look, since this is the most authentic surviving piece of the original interior. The walls also carry paintings of the last four bears hunted in the Krkonoše Mountains, a small but telling reminder that large predators once roamed these peaks. Because the building now houses the municipal offices, access is largely limited to the public areas and the park rather than a full guided interior tour — this is more a spot for a walk and a photo than a lengthy museum visit.

A few steps away, inside a former Augustinian monastery, you'll find the Krkonoše Museum, founded back in 1883. If time allows, pairing a stroll through the castle park with a visit to the museum gives a much fuller picture of the region's history.

When's the best time to visit?

The park around the castle looks its best in spring and summer, when the greenery sets off the Renaissance facade nicely. Since this is mainly an open public space rather than a ticketed attraction with fixed hours, it's accessible pretty much year-round — autumn and winter bring their own reward in the form of clear views toward the nearby Krkonoše peaks.

Frequently asked questions

Can you go inside Vrchlabí Castle? The building now functions as the town hall, so interior access is limited — visitors mainly see the entrance hall with its historic portals, plus the surrounding park.

How old is the castle? The current structure dates from 1533–1546, making it one of the oldest buildings of its Renaissance style anywhere in the Czech Republic.

Is it worth combining with the Krkonoše Museum? Yes — the museum sits right next door in a former Augustinian monastery and adds real context on the region's nature and history that the castle represents.

Is it a good quick stop on the way into the mountains? Definitely — it sits directly on the main road into the Krkonoše Mountains, close to the train and bus stations, making it an easy hour-or-two stop before heading further uphill.