MIKULOV CASTLE (ZÁMEK) AND REGIONAL MUSEUM

It is not difficult to imagine why the first Slavic tribes who settled in the territory of the present-day Czech Republic decided to establish a fort on this beautiful rocky peak. From here, one can overlook the plain and control the region. But of course, no trace of this first stronghold remains today. The medieval walls that can still be seen today date from the 13th century, when the fort was first enlarged. Two old towers are noteworthy. The present baroque castle was built in 1719 by the Dietrichstein family on top of the medieval citadel (which had already been remodeled into a Renaissance castle). But the palace also houses a folklore and wine exhibition and... a curiosity: the enormous 17th century barrel with a capacity of 1,010 hectoliters, the largest in this part of Europe and much larger than the barrels one is used to seeing in the cellars. Another highlight of the visit is the library, built after the fire of 1729, which now houses over 11,000 priceless volumes. The terraced gardens (free admission) offer beautiful views of the city. The regional museum has been closed in 2021 due to renovations of both the premises and the collections, with no reopening date yet given due to delays during the pandemic. Check the website for more information.