Vrbičany: Castle, Parks and Special Collections

Vrbičany combines a late Baroque castle with unusual collections, parkland and opportunities for excursions between culture and landscape. Vrbičany Castle was built between 1786 and 1789. It is interesting to visitors not only because of its architecture: the building displays paintings and graphic works by the academic painter Vladimír Veselý, and it is also currently apparently home to the largest exhibition of historic prams in the Czech Republic. The collection comprises more than 222 exhibits from the collections of Hanka Müllerová and Eva Vaněčková.

Castle, Architecture and Collections

The castle is a single-storey building with a projecting central section that has two storeys. Its history may go back even further, as it probably stands on the site of a medieval fortress. This cautious historical classification adds to the perspective on the later building and makes the castle a place where different eras come together.

The exhibitions also have their own distinct focus. Vladimír Veselý’s paintings and graphic works offer an artistic approach to the castle, while the historic prams form a collection with a particularly tangible connection to everyday life. In the castle park, visitors can also try washing Bohemian garnets. This adds a practical and unusual experience to the visit.

Parks, Chapel and Garden Pavilion

Vrbičany Castle was surrounded by an English and a French park. Beside the castle stands a gloriette, or garden pavilion. Vrbičany is also home to a Neoclassical niche chapel from the first half of the 19th century; it bears catalogue number 1000154623. These various architectural and garden elements give the site several cultural points of interest, without limiting a visit to the castle to the main building.

Outdoor Activities in Vrbičany and the Surrounding Area

The municipality has renovated the avenue towards Tělohunt as far as the landfill and installed outdoor fitness equipment there. Along this avenue, visitors can exercise while enjoying views of the Central Bohemian Uplands. For a cycling trip, a 25.5 km route through Doksany and the surrounding area is an option. It follows a 6 km section with only a gentle incline to the municipality of Vrbičany. The different route lengths help you plan your excursion, whether you prefer a short section or a longer circuit.

Getting There and Choosing a Location

When choosing accommodation in Vrbičany, it is worth considering your planned journey to the castle. From Chotěšov pod Házmburkem railway station, the official access route continues for another 4 km on foot to Vrbičany Castle. By bus, travel to Vrbičany and then walk another 600 metres to the castle. These two documented options provide a concrete basis for matching the location of your accommodation with your preferred style of excursion.

For further research, you can also look at Lipá, Kundratice, Encovany, Libochovice, Prackovice Nad Labem, Záluží U Roudnice Nad Labem, Straškov-Vodochody and Vlastislav.

To the higher-level travel overview: Litoměřice District.