by Karen Warren | Czech Republic
Even after all the castles I had seen in East Bohemia, Nové Hrady came as a surprise. Not far from the town of Litomyšl, this is a beautifully intact rococo castle with formal gardens tumbling down the hillside. No wonder it is known as the “Czech Versailles”. Nové...
by Karen Warren | Czech Republic, Hotels
It’s not every day you get to sleep in an old castle. Let alone a haunted one. But Svojanov Castle, close to Polička in East Bohemia, has its own guest accommodation. You can sleep, explore and discover the ghosts… Exploring Svojanov Castle The castle has an...
by Karen Warren | Czech Republic
Litomyšl, in East Bohemia, is another Czech town that deserves to be much better known. A UNESCO World Heritage castle and a charming town centre with lots of notable buildings are part of the attraction. As is the annual opera festival in honour of the composer...
by Karen Warren | Ireland
Why do more than 400,000 people a year visit Blarney Castle, in the south-west of Ireland? I’d always assumed that they all went to kiss the famous Blarney Stone, and not much more. Certainly that’s what I did, on a long ago visit to the nearby town of Cork. But I had...
by Karen Warren | United Kingdom
I visited lots of medieval castles on my recent trip to Wales. However, the one that I enjoyed the most was Pembroke Castle. It has an enviable waterside location, and is designed to appeal to both families and history-lovers. And, although the history of Pembroke...
