The monuments have attracted over a quarter of a million people, some are open even in winter

The most people found their way to Rabí (53,890), Švihov (38,840) and Velhartice (45,310) castles. The most significant increase in attendance is recorded by monuments after extensive restoration – the Kladruby and Plasy monasteries. Kladrubsk monastery attendance increased by 124 percent compared to last year. “I think the season was successful. So far, we have reached over 25,000 visitors, which is historically the highest number of visitors to the Kladrub Monastery since 1968, and we still have tours booked in the winter,” boasted the castellan Milan Zoubek. According to him, the visitors especially positively evaluated the new installation of the monks’ cells, the garden in the Paradise courtyard and the fraternity. The optional Santini circuit and a number of events commemorating its anniversary this year were also successful.

In Velhartice, they ended the season with a traditional run and a varied program

The increase in attendance by 35 percent is also pleasing to the castellan Plasy monastery Pavla Duchoně: “Visitors were attracted by the opening of a new castle tour dedicated to the Metternich family. People walk alone without a guide in the furnished castle interiors. They can even sit on the selected furniture and experience the space and atmosphere in a different way.”

It is a popular destination for its location and atmosphere Kašperk Castle, where they also cannot complain about attendance. “Here at Kašperk, in September the number of paying visitors on tours already exceeded the annual attendance for 2022, 45 thousand visitors passed through the premises. The spring exhibition of the Coronation Jewels within easy reach, which was on display in the west tower of the castle, contributed significantly to this. Recently, public interest has also been helped by the awarding of the Křišťálovy Špendlík award for the best-rated monument in the Plzeň region by visitors, which was awarded and promoted by Google,” said Kašperk castellan Václav Kůs.

In our photo gallery, remind yourself of the Sword Against Destiny event at Rabí Castle:

The Old Černín Castle in Chudenice is also visited, where many interesting events take place during the season. But even now they did not hibernate there. “Our castle was visited by 8,828 visitors from April to the end of October, which is about 900 less than in the same period last year. There was a greater interest in cultural events and exhibitions. But the season is not over yet. The Christmas retro toy exhibition starts on November 17, Santa Claus is at the castle on December 3, Petr Kolář’s concert on December 10, and everything ends on December 16 with a live nativity scene in the castle courtyard. We expect that with these actions we will still make up for the loss compared to last year,” said the representative of the castellan, Marie Rynešová Lodek.

The knights from Žichovice helped once again at the Rabí castle, this time little Diana

However, it is also possible to visit other monuments. They will continue in the Plasy monastery and the U Matoušů farm in Pilsen-Bolevec until December 22. Visitors to the castle can look forward to the nativity scene Horšovský Týn, concerts await them in Kladruby Monastery or Nebílovy Castle. The classic Christmas fairy tale Three Nuts for Cinderella will be shown at Švihov Castle. Special tours have been prepared at Rabí Castle, where there will also be a traditional St. Nicholas offering at the beginning of December.

Investment

Monuments in the Pilsen region are popular and visited, so it is also necessary to invest in them and reconstruct them. A total of 125 million crowns went to the restoration this year, of which 90 million from the European Union to complete the revitalization projects of the Kladruby and Plasy monasteries. Pilsen’s monuments received 23 million from the state budget and 12 million from the budget of the National Monuments Institute for their restoration. “For example, the roof of the chapel was repaired with this money Kozel castle or a new visitor center was built in the Plasy monastery,” the NPÚ spokeswoman listed.