Visiting the idyllic Rožmberk nad Vltavou Castle, Czech Republic

The little town of Rožmberk nad Vltavou is a small down in southern Bohemia, close to the Austrian border and situated along the Vltava (Moldau) River. It is only a few kilometers of the pretty town of  Český Krumlov, and looks like a miniature version of that town.

The most famous monument in the town – dominating a dramatic hilltop position over the meandering Vltava – is the 13th century fortified castle built by the powerful Rožmberk family.

The Rožmberks used this castle as their base for ruling their vast estates in the region from the 13th to the 17th centuries.

Later, the Buquoy family, who were Czech nobility of French origin,  would own the castle and renovate parts of it to the English Neogothic style in vogue during the 19th century.

There is an impressive Banquet Hall and a good collection of glass, paintings and weapons.

One of the paintings in the collection is of the 15th century Perchta Rožmberk. She was married off to Jan von Lichtenstein, against her will, in 1449, who was believed to be mentally unstable. According to her letters, he physically mistreated her and her marriage and life with her husband was unhappy and abusive. Perhaps for this reason, she is known as the “White Lady” since some think her ghost still wanders the surroundings.

We didn’t spot her on our visit, however ….

Enjoy your luck trying to spot her apparition when you’re visiting pretty Rožmberk nad Vltavou. And if you have time, you can rent boats and paddle along the Vltava River on your visit.

For more Czech castle tips, see my earlier post on visiting the Frydlant Castle – the one said to have inspired the author Franz Kafka for his novel The Castle.