- Address: Zámecká 1, 285 61 Žleby, Czech Republic
- Opening hours: Saturday, Sunday 09: 00-16: 00
Not far from the Czech city of Kutna Hora is the medieval castle of Bread or Zhleby (Zámek Žleby). It rises on top of the mountain and is surrounded by a mysterious forest, and looks like a knight's house.
General information
The palace is located on the bank of the Dubrava River, from which the name of the castle came. In Czech, "Slag" means "mouth". The structure is an impregnable fortress, made in the Neo-Gothic style. The building belongs to the architectural monuments of the country.
The Castle of Bread is first mentioned in the Czech Republic in 1289. At this point an ancient citadel was built, which was owned by the feudal family of Lichtenburgers. For several centuries, the building was rebuilt and rebuilt several times. The building acquired its modern romantic appearance in the middle of the XIX century.
Historical background
During its existence, the fortress changed owners many times. The Chateau Castle belonged not only to the nobles, but also to the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire - Charles the Fourth. The second most prominent owner is Jan Adam Auersperk. He acquired the structure in 1754. The descendants of Auersperk owned the structure for over 200 years, until in 1945 the castle was nationalized by the Czech Republic . During this period, the hosts carried out 2 major reconstructions, thanks to which some elements of the fortress were made in the styles of baroque, renaissance and pseudo-gothic.
With the castle of Bread, a mystical legend is connected. It says that in the building there lives a ghost of a woman dressed in a black dress. The specter is harmless and belongs to the governess, who died, having fallen from the tower of the palace, in the XIX century. By the way, she closely follows the visitors, so that they do not violate the rules of conduct.
What to see in the fortress?
At the entrance to the castle of Zhleb tourists meets a knight clothed in armor. The interior of the building is striking with its rich decoration: the walls are decorated with intricate ornamentation and art paintings, and the wallpaper is made of deer leather. During the excursion visitors will get acquainted with old traditions and learn about the life of the Czech aristocracy.
On the territory of the fortress are located:
- cellars with secret labyrinths;
- blue hall - here are the portraits of the former owners of the fortress;
- A large tower, on which there is an elegant staircase of 120 steps, and from the top a stunning view opens up;
- knight's hall - it contains ancient weapons, armor, porcelain figurines and various trophies;
- An ancient chapel, furnished with unique exhibits;
- Tyrolean room - here is the antique furniture and crystal products;
- red cabinet - in it you can see a large-scale collection of paintings.
The Castle of Bread is surrounded by a picturesque English garden, in which is equipped with a small house and a reserve where rare white deer live. According to the giving, meeting with this animal symbolizes the fulfillment of desires.
Features of visit
The Castle of Bread is open from April to October from 09:00 to 18:00, while in the warm season the doors of the institution are closed at 19:00. Monday is the official weekend. From November to March, you can visit the palace only on Saturday and Sunday from 09:00 until 16:00.
It is strictly forbidden to take video and photograph inside the castle. The admission fee is $ 6 for adults and $ 4 for children from 6 to 15 years. For the Russian-speaking guide, each visitor will have to pay $ 3 more.
How to get there?
From the capital of the Czech Republic to the castle of Zhleba you can get there in several ways:- By car, take the D11, Nos. 38 and 12. The distance is 100 km.
- By train R675, he departs from the station Praha hlavní nádraž. The fare is $ 5. Exit at the station Caslav (Caslav), and then change to the train OS 15913, go to the stop Zleby.
- By bus from the station UÁN Florenc. The journey takes up to 2 hours.