Czech Republic Guide
South Bohemia
Zámecká věž
Opening time: Daily: April– May, Sept & Oct 9am–5pm; June– Aug 9am–6pm
Price: 45Kč
Cross the medvědí příkop (bear moat) past the first courtyard of the lower castle, where the latest batch of unfortunate bears is incarcerated, and head for the beautifully restored castle tower, the Zámecká věž, for a superb view over the town. There are two hour-long guided tours (Tues– Sun: April, May, Sept & Oct 9am–5pm; June– Aug 9am–6pm), occasionally in English: go for trasa 1 (100Kč, 230Kč for an English tour), which takes you through the surviving Renaissance rooms, the Rococo excesses of the blue and pink marble chapel, and the Maškarní sál, a ballroom exquisitely decorated with trompe l'oeil murals of commedia dell'arte scenes. Trasa 2 (100Kč, 180Kč for an English tour) concentrates on portraits of the Schwarzenbergs and doles out rich helpings of nineteenth-century opulence.