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The largest chateau in the Czech Republic: Český Krumlov, Jindřichův Hradec and record-breaking parks

The largest chateau complex in the Czech Republic is Český Krumlov; only Prague Castle is bigger. Nobody has measured a ranking of chateaux alone, though. Which chateaux and parks hold documented records, from Veltrusy to the Lednice–Valtice Area.

Czech heritage records · the largest chateaux and parks

Short answer: the largest chateau complex in the Czech Republic is Český Krumlov, with some forty buildings around five courtyards. Only Prague Castle is bigger, and that is a castle. Jindřichův Hradec is usually named third, and Třeboň fourth in Bohemia.

Nobody has measured a ranking of chateaux alone by area, though. Other records can be documented: Veltrusy has the largest chateau park (298 ha), and the Lednice–Valtice Area is considered the most extensive designed landscape in Europe.

“The largest chateau in the Czech Republic”, “the second largest chateau”, “the largest chateau in Moravia”: these questions are surprisingly hard to answer honestly. We went through Czech Radio, Kudy z nudy, National Heritage Institute websites, Wikipedia and Seznam Zprávy's measurements, and the result is clear. Sources rank only castle and chateau complexes, not chateaux on their own. So this article says what can be documented, and states plainly what cannot.

The largest chateau complex: Český Krumlov

Czech Radio says literally: “In second place by area in our country is the chateau in Český Krumlov.” First is Prague Castle, the largest ancient castle in the world according to Guinness World Records (see our article The largest castle in the Czech Republic and the world). Because Prague Castle is a castle, Český Krumlov is the largest chateau complex in the Czech Republic. Kudy z nudy, Wikipedia and the town's information centre agree.

The Krumlov complex consists of some forty buildings and palaces around five courtyards, plus the castle garden. The figures differ, though: the information centre gives 40 buildings and 7 hectares of garden, the chateau's official website 41 buildings and a 12-hectare garden. Kudy z nudy and Wikipedia give the complex an area of over 6 hectares, while Seznam Zprávy measured 3.14 hectares without the gardens. Beware of the claim “second largest chateau in Central Europe”; the official website does not say that.

Český Krumlov Castle with its painted tower above the town in evening light — The chateau complex in Český Krumlov is the largest in the country after Prague Castle. Photo: VitVit, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Second and third: Jindřichův Hradec and Třeboň

Jindřichův Hradec is usually named the third largest castle and chateau complex in the Czech Republic, after Prague Castle and Český Krumlov. Its area varies most between sources: 3.5 hectares according to Czech Wikipedia, just under 3 according to English Wikipedia, and 1.82 hectares by Seznam Zprávy's measurement, which put it only eighth. The National Heritage Institute says only that it is one of the most extensive heritage sites in the country.

Třeboň Chateau with its six-hectare English park is, according to the Třeboň information centre and other sources, the fourth largest chateau complex in Bohemia. It has more than a hundred, or about 120, rooms depending on the source.

So the most common answers to “the second largest chateau” and “the third largest chateau” are Český Krumlov and Jindřichův Hradec. If Prague Castle counts as first, these are second and third; among chateaux alone, first and second.

The largest chateau park: Veltrusy

For parks the figures are clearer. The chateau park at Veltrusy covers 298 hectares, and Kudy z nudy calls it the largest in Bohemia. Czech Television gives 300 hectares and calls it the largest in the whole country. Close behind is Kynžvart: according to a 2025 press release from the National Heritage Institute, its 293 hectares make it the second largest chateau park in Bohemia, just 5 hectares smaller than Veltrusy.

Veltrusy Chateau with its dome at the end of a vista between trees, a deer grazing in the grass — The chateau park at Veltrusy covers 298 hectares, the largest in Bohemia. Photo: Skot, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Next come Průhonice Park with almost 250 hectares, one of the largest naturalistic landscape parks in Europe, and the park at Lednice Chateau with about 200 hectares.

The largest designed landscape: Lednice and Valtice

South Moravia holds a record unmatched in Europe. The Lednice–Valtice Area is a landscape of 283 km² that the Liechtenstein family shaped over centuries into one great garden with the chateaux of Lednice and Valtice, ponds, avenues and romantic follies. The National Heritage Institute and Wikipedia describe it as the most extensive designed landscape in Europe and possibly in the world. Czech Television calls it the largest man-made landscape in Europe.

It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since December 1996. The inscribed area is smaller, however: 143 km². The figure of 283 km² refers to the whole landscape. The two chateaux are linked by a seven-kilometre avenue, and 302 steps lead to the top gallery of the Lednice Minaret.

Neo-Gothic Lednice Chateau with a light facade and flower beds in front — Lednice Chateau, the heart of the Lednice–Valtice Area. Photo: Henry Kellner, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

The largest Baroque chateaux

Nobody states as a fact which is “the largest Baroque chateau in the Czech Republic”. What can be documented:

Jaroměřice nad Rokytnou in the Vysočina region, nicknamed the “Moravian Versailles”. The National Heritage Institute says it is one of the most massive buildings of the first half of the 18th century in the country and in Europe, and Czech Radio counts it among the largest Baroque buildings in Central Europe. Do not confuse it with Jaroměřice Chateau in the Pardubice region.
Slavkov (Austerlitz) is, according to many sources, one of the most massive Baroque chateaux in Moravia. It calls itself the largest Baroque monument in Moravia, but that is its own promotion.

Baroque chateau of Jaroměřice nad Rokytnou with a yellow facade and a bridge over the river — Jaroměřice nad Rokytnou is one of the largest Baroque buildings in Central Europe. Photo: Jan Polák, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

More chateau records

Hluboká nad Vltavou has 140 rooms and 11 towers. No ranking of chateaux by number of rooms exists, though.
Kroměříž: the entrance to the Flower Garden is a colonnade 244 metres long, on the UNESCO list together with the chateau and the Podzámecká Garden.
The largest Renaissance chateau could not be documented. English Wikipedia counts Litomyšl Castle among the largest, but official texts say nothing about its size.
The largest chateau in Moravia is not named by any source. Closest is Slavkov, with its own label “the largest Baroque monument in Moravia”.

Neo-Gothic Hluboká Castle with battlements and towers at sunset — Hluboká Castle has 140 rooms and 11 towers. Photo: Michal Klajban, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0

Long colonnade with arcades and statues in the Flower Garden in Kroměříž — The colonnade of the Flower Garden in Kroměříž is 244 metres long. Photo: Palickap, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Table: the largest chateaux, complexes and parks

Site	Figure	Record
Český Krumlov	about 40 buildings, 5 courtyards; over 6 ha / 3.14 ha without gardens	largest chateau complex in the country
Jindřichův Hradec	3.5 / under 3 / 1.82 ha	usually named third complex
Třeboň	over 100 / about 120 rooms, park 6 ha	fourth chateau complex in Bohemia
Veltrusy	park 298 ha	largest chateau park
Kynžvart	park 293 ha	second largest park in Bohemia
Průhonice	park almost 250 ha	one of the largest landscape parks in Europe
Lednice–Valtice Area	283 km² (UNESCO 143 km²)	most extensive designed landscape in Europe
Hluboká nad Vltavou	140 rooms, 11 towers	–
Jaroměřice nad Rokytnou	H-shaped plan	one of the largest Baroque buildings in Central Europe
Kroměříž	colonnade 244 m, tower 84 m	UNESCO

Quick facts for quizzes and school projects

After Prague Castle, the largest castle and chateau complex in the Czech Republic is Český Krumlov.
The fourth largest chateau complex in Bohemia is Třeboň, after Prague, Krumlov and Jindřichův Hradec.
The largest chateau park in Bohemia is at Veltrusy, with 298 hectares.
The second largest chateau park in Bohemia is Kynžvart, with 293 hectares.
The Lednice–Valtice Area (283 km²) is considered the most extensive designed landscape in Europe. It has been on the UNESCO list since 1996.
302 steps lead to the top gallery of the Lednice Minaret.
Hluboká Castle has 140 rooms and 11 towers.
The colonnade of the Flower Garden in Kroměříž is 244 metres long.

Trip ideas

South Bohemia: Český Krumlov, Hluboká, Třeboň and Jindřichův Hradec are close to each other. Over a long weekend you can see three of the largest chateau complexes in the country.

Lednice–Valtice Area: best by bike. The chateaux of Lednice and Valtice are linked by a seven-kilometre avenue, and small romantic follies are scattered across the landscape.

We do not list opening hours or admission prices because they change. You will find them on the chateaux' websites, most of which are run by the National Heritage Institute.

More Czech heritage records

All records in one place: Czech heritage records.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the largest chateau in the Czech Republic?

Nobody has measured a ranking of chateaux alone. The largest chateau complex is Český Krumlov, with some forty buildings around five courtyards; only Prague Castle is bigger, and that is a castle.

What are the second and third largest chateaux?

After Prague Castle, Český Krumlov is second and Jindřichův Hradec is usually named third. The fourth largest chateau complex in Bohemia is Třeboň.

What is the largest chateau park in the Czech Republic?

The park at Veltrusy, with 298 hectares. Second in Bohemia is Kynžvart with 293 hectares, followed by Průhonice (almost 250 ha) and Lednice (about 200 ha).

What is the largest chateau in Moravia?

No source documents it. Slavkov (Austerlitz) calls itself the largest Baroque monument in Moravia, and Jaroměřice nad Rokytnou is one of the largest Baroque buildings in Central Europe.

How large is the Lednice–Valtice Area?

The landscape covers 283 km² and is considered the most extensive designed landscape in Europe. Since 1996, 143 km² have been inscribed on the UNESCO list.

How many rooms does Hluboká Castle have?

According to Kudy z nudy and Seznam Zprávy, 140 rooms and 11 towers.

Information from Czech Radio, Kudy z nudy, the National Heritage Institute (chateau websites and UNESCO texts), Czech and English Wikipedia, Czech Television, Seznam Zprávy (2021 measurement), and the Český Krumlov and Třeboň information centres; disputed figures are marked in the text. Photographs from Wikimedia Commons. Lead photo: Český Krumlov Castle, VitVit, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.

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