Frýdlant Castle

What makes it special

The Upper Castle is the oldest part of the complex, and its route crosses two furnished floors in twenty rooms that introduce every family that owned Frýdlant over seven centuries. Its owners opened it to the public in 1801, which made it one of the first castle museums in Central Europe.

The great Knights' Hall holds the family gallery. The route also takes in the armoury, the banquet hall and a large collection of estate staff uniforms.

The chateau below belonged to the Clam-Gallas family, the last owners. Its finest rooms are the Great Dining Room, the Armorial Hall and the Flower Salon, which opens onto a long line of connecting rooms.

A separate armoury tour fills nine rooms with weapons from the late Middle Ages to the 19th century, including pieces from the Orient. It ends at the top of the castle tower, the oldest part of the castle, with a view over the country around Frýdlant.

Visiting

Do the Upper Castle first and the chateau second, so you see the older rooms before the furnished family floors. Buy both at the ticket office by the entrance with no reservation, or online; organised groups cannot use the online shop and reserve by email instead.

The chateau route begins in the kitchen on the ground floor. From there it climbs through the state and private rooms of the lord's floor, then the lady's floor.

Add the armoury tour last if you want the weapons rooms as well.

Guided or on your own

The interiors are seen only on guided circuits: the Upper Castle tour takes up to 40 visitors and the chateau tour up to 30. On a first visit, take those two; the armoury tour suits a reader who wants the weapons in depth.

The Castellan's Wing shows a furnished 19th-century apartment in the Yellow Chateau on a 45-minute tour for up to 8 visitors. Hidden Places of Frýdlant takes small groups of 10 into normally closed ground-floor rooms and the castle cellars, and must be booked ahead, by individuals as well as groups.

Tips

Download the free audio guide in English, German, Polish or Spanish to your phone before you leave Liberec, so it is ready when the first tour starts.

From 1 October to 1 November the armoury tour runs only on Saturdays and Sundays. Plan a weekend that month if the weapons rooms are on your list.